“It was clear to us that the video would polarize, but not that it would be so extreme. The reactions are more violent than expected,” said Linz Tourism Director Georg Steiner. Ultimately, his concept worked at least to the extent that people talked about Linz – the video was viewed and shared well over 300,000 times on social media and on the tourism association’s website alone. “The target group is primarily the non-Linzers,” emphasizes Steiner: “That is why we are currently working on an English version.”
That means, despite the justified and sometimes violent criticism, nothing will be changed in the campaign? “No, I stand by it. The video is particularly well received by the younger generation. But there were also positive reactions from companions from the 2009 Capital of Culture year, such as director Airan Berg,” says Steiner.
The criticism of the content is only one aspect that has caused anger in the city of Linz – where comparisons were made to the actions of the German action artist Christoph Schlingensief.
A second approach is that SP Mayor Klaus Luger did not get to see the video beforehand. What also VP City Councilor Doris Lang-Mayerhofer, the city’s tourism advisor, does not appreciate. She saw the video “in the last board meeting of the tourism association at the end of June”. How did she find it? “Basically it’s deliberately provocative and polarizing, I think it’s a courageous campaign. But I also viewed the video critically and therefore pointed out that all relevant players in the city should see it in advance. The campaign needs some explanation. Why that didn’t happen, I don’t know. “
“Summit” in two weeks
It is clear that the Linz Tourist Association is an independent association, specifically a corporation under public law, which means that tourism director Georg Steiner is only accountable to “his” supervisory board. But of course it would be wise – and it would be part of good manners – to discuss such provocative projects (as successful as they may be) with the city chief. What will now happen in two weeks, because there is already an appointment. This was agreed before the video was published, but it has become even more explosive. (fawn)
Linz tourism video is also an issue in Berlin
The two masterminds of Linz’s top restaurant Rossbarth, Marco Barth and Sebastian Rossbach, are protagonists in the hotly debated Linz tourism video. And see the debates relaxed: “We were asked if we would like to take part in the video, but we didn’t know exactly what was going to happen. We didn’t see it until after it was released and we think it’s good. It is in line with the zeitgeist, “says Marco Barth, who is currently in Berlin:” The Linz video is even an issue here, I’ve already been asked about it. “And how were the reactions? “Consistently positive, especially young people think it’s very successful.”
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