They have similar names and flags, although different colours, and both have crosses, but Sweden and Switzerland are different countries. This usual confusion between the two countries is what prompted Stockholm to launch a new campaign to attract tourism that distinguishes the two regions, with a high dose of humor. Hey A video with the slogan of the initiative “Welcome to Sweden (not Switzerland)” went viral on social media.
“Swiss leaders and citizens, this is a message from Sweden. We are communicating with you about our mutual problem. Yes, I am talking about this,” says the face of the campaign, holding a newspaper that talks about the recent episode in which Joe Biden, President of the United States of America, confused the two countries in NATO summit.
The interlocutor says: “It is time to make the differences between our countries crystal clear, and define who has the right to talk about what, and our proposal is as follows.”
The campaign, launched by VisitSweden, a Swedish state-owned company, stipulates what corresponds to each country: Switzerland gets the benches, the mountaintops or the zip line, while the connection with Sweden begins with its sandbanks and balconies. Bars, cafes and silence.
“LSD will go to Switzerland, because you invented it, and Sweden will have the northern lights, which is a different kind of surreal experience. Particle accelerator? It’s yours. And Sweden gets the opposite, rest and recuperation,” we hear in the video.
The country also highlights its production of “contemporary fashion” and says Sweden can keep its “luxury watches”, if it leaves the possibility of “forgetting time” to the other country that confuses them with them.
“We are open to negotiations,” he ends the video, without mentioning the famous Swiss chain Toblerone or the famous Swedish chain IKEA.
Despite the usual confusion between the names of the two countries, the two countries maintain good political and economic relations.
A reaction from Slovenia and Slovakia is now expected, and it will not wait long.
Alright Switzerland, let’s solve this! People all over the world continue to confuse Sweden with Switzerland. To end this confusion, we are now communicating with Swiss officials. #Sweden is not Switzerland
https://t.co/UtlCtTxyFu pic.twitter.com/8RVwuNOCaq— Visit Sweden (@visitsweden) October 24, 2023
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