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Maldives Social Media Campaign Backfires
When the Maldives Tourism Board urged fans of the islands to help make their tourism slogan, "The Sunny Side of Life," a global trend on Thursday, the campaign backfired. Instead of spreading positive words about the tropical paradise, tweets about police brutality and political illegitimacy spread like wildfire.
The social media campaign, which aimed to make the hashtag #SunnySideofLife a global trend, kicked off on the tourism board's Twitter account, @myvisitmaldives, with this simple tweet: "Maldives has been awarded as the Most Romantic Destination in the World #SunnySideofLife."
Readers, most of whom seem to be Maldivian citizens, shot back with some words of their own. Here is a sampling of some of the choice words they had:
- #SunnySideofLife where a resort owner withhold staff salary, but spends millions to BUY a seat in parliament!!
- Evening plans? I'm joining the protest after work.. can't stand to watch fellow citizens being beaten by the police #SunnySideofLife
- #Maldives not paradise for its people. Brutal coup regime suppressing our rights to freedom of expression & assembly. #SunnySideofLife
- ThankU Coup Government of Maldives for #SunnySideofLife event. We'll make sure to pass your acts of brutality to Twittersphere.
- #SunnySideOfLife: Pristine white sandy beaches, crystal clear lagoons filled with blood of its citizens who are fighting for democracy
- Visit the only place where ur tourism dollar will facilitate coup makers to persecute its people in the #sunnysideoflife
When all is said and done, the tourism board did reach their goal of making #SunnySideofLife a global trend. Tweets featuring the hashtag are still filtering in, but few of them actually boast about the redeeming qualities of the islands. What's more, the campaign just-so-happens to coincide with a United Nations hearing that centers on the status of human rights in the Maldives.
Readers, weigh in; do you think the tourism board should have thought out the timing of the campaign's launch a little more? And does anyone who has been to the Maldives recently have something to share?
[Photo by muha..., Flickr]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Clare Jul 13th 2012 5:20PM
We used to go to The Maldives in the '80s and early '90s. It was a charming, beautiful, unspoiled paradise. Late '80s, we did a two-week sailing safari around the outer islands. It is one of the most memorable exoeriences we've had in our many travels.
We went back to The Maldives early 2000s - we were really disappointed and saddened by the effects of over commercialisation on what was the pristine nature of the islands, especially the coral and sea life. There were, and still are, way too many tourists who don't have respect for the unique environment that is the very essence of The Maldives (along with the people).
We're so happy and thankful that we got to experience The Maldives at their best.
Sammy Corfield Jul 13th 2012 10:49PM
Nice to see a terrible and illegitimate govt embarrassed!