Following the March 22
terror attacks in Brussels, videos popped up on YouTube that mocked Visit
Brussels' #CallBrussels tourism campaign, which the tourism-promotion
organization called regrettable.
The #CallBrussels social media campaign attempted to
ease the concerns of potential tourists about Brussels, which was locked down
for days following the Paris terrorist attacks in November.
In the ad, three phone
booths were installed at the Mont des Arts, the Place Flagey and the Place
Communale in Molenbeek so that passersby could answer calls from foreign
tourists asking if the city was safe to visit. Those answering the calls
attested that the city was safe.
After the Brussels attacks
in March, the #CallBrussels campaign was vulnerable to ridicule, and YouTube
video makers struck, splicing together scenes and music from the ad with scenes
of destruction from the bombings.
“The idea behind the
#CallBrussels campaign was to give visitors and inhabitants of Brussels the
possibility to speak out for themselves. We can only regret that some are now
using those images in a different way,” Martha Meeze, a spokeswoman for Visit
Brussels, told Travel Weekly.
Added Meeze, “Visit
Brussels will continue to give visitors and residents the possibility to
express themselves about our city. The day after the attacks, a spontaneous
public movement arose with the will of all to continue living despite the
tragic events that have affected us. We will also relay these messages. Because
we believe that the best response to the tragedies that have affected our major
cities around the world is by not changing our lifestyle.”