Being retired, I have plenty of time to watch TV commercials and evaluate them for their ability to manipulate the public. So speaking as somewhat of
an expert, I am really disappointed by the commercials the Mexican tourism board are showing on San Diego TV. I'm talking about 3 in particular that
I have seen. One shows 6 or 7 children lying in the sun on lounge chairs, apparently at a resort hotel somewhere south. Then they all turn over at
the same time. The 2nd one features two young ladies in a bar drinking tequila shooters and giggling. The third features some gentleman on a fishing
boat , supposedly off La Paz struggling to reel in a big one and having the line break. They all conclude by reminding us not to forget certain
things when we make our way to Mexico. Personally speaking, I feel these commercials really miss their mark by not showing the "real" Mexico, which in
my opinion are the beaches, the deserts,the wildlife, the food, the resorts, the people, the towns and villages, and all the cultural diversity that
make up this beautiful country. Anyone else have any thoughts on the subject.
Funny you should mention that. Mexican advertising agencys have a different way of communicating to the public and I'm sure Mexicans have a different
way of interpreting what commercials say to them. I see it often on the large roadside signs on the toll road around Rosarito. A beer ad will say
things that make no sense and have zero appeal to my way of seeing it but, I'm sure a Mexican would be attracted to it in one way or the other.
Some of the Corona ads on TV are just as senseless to me and I'll bet they are put together by Mexican ad companys.
These are cultural differences and go way beyond advertising. I've had Mexican friends explain the monologue of a comedian which they saw the night
before. They related some of the stand-up humor while they were laughing their butts off and it made absolutly no sense to me. This wasn't for
anything lost in translation as my friends spoke stateside English.
Anyway.....we're seeing things that were made for us but, not by us. I would think that, for the money they spend, they would be aware of this
difference since it largely results in a big waste of time and money.
All the ads specifically say "Baja Sur" promoting gringo skin cancer, young people binge drinking and lost sportsman opportunities in the wild- seems
kind of like the real mexico to me.
\"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing\"
1961- JFK to Canadian parliament (Edmund Burke)
I'll go with the Los Cabos idea. Advertising costs money and Los Cabos has thousands of rooms to fill. Besides, for many stateside, Baja and Los Cabos
are synonymous. Also, although it may not be quite as evident today, not so long ago, the average Mexican took great pride in the modern resort
developments like Cabo and Cancun as evidence of Mexico's emergence from third world obscurity.
dennis has the right idea...this is the way many mexicanos perceive what foreigners want in mexico. I remember when I brought up the idea of making
more accomodations in Asuncion and locals comments were like....why? who would want to come HERE??? they think gringos want big hotels, bars, fancy
restaurants etc. (which alot of tourists do by the way).
And dennis was so right about the cultural differences...like those silly tv shows where adults dress up like children...mexican LOVE that and it
drives me nuts.
Originally posted by jodiego
Personally speaking, I feel these commercials really miss their mark by not showing the "real" Mexico,...
Anyone else have any thoughts on the subject?
well, that type of tourism generates the big $$. the resorts generate large revenues and their organizations can afford to buy advertising time.
relative to resort tourism, people camping on the beach contribute very little to the economy.
Originally posted by Dave
Corona ads are very effective.
Why else would anyone drink that crap?
In the US with a big budget national ad campaign, you could sell pidgeonchit sandwiches and you would generate a following for the delicacy.
All I'm saying is, the ads could be better and even more effective if directed to the US buyer in a different way.
I mean, two young people sitting in beach chairs with a small table between them with untouched bottles of beer. They do that over and over. It's
so unrealistic and sterile.
It's definitely an age thing, but I see tons of photo's here on Baja Nomad that really spark an intense desire for me to head across the border. As
recently as Pompano's pictures of Mulege and Conception Bay are absolutely beautiful, even the ones showing the after-effects of Jimena. Someone
needs to contact the tourist bureau and clue them in. They have so many wonderful resources that they could utilize to sell baja to us gringo's, and
all they show drinking, suntanning, and fishing. Que verguenza.
Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Kinda wonder if that behavior, which many of us would consider juvenile, is rooted in the historic lack of education of the populace??
I don't know. I do know that all levels of society like these things we see as childish. Not just the lesser educated.
I've thought at times it may be a result of vaudeville which had later popularity in Mexico due to isolation.
All I know for sure is when I see this seventy year old man dressed as a pre-schooler and talking with an childs voice on TV, I start opening beers.
Originally posted by Bajahowodd
... not so long ago, the average Mexican took great pride in the modern resort developments like Cabo and Cancun as evidence of Mexico's emergence
from third world obscurity.
and now?
\"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing\"
1961- JFK to Canadian parliament (Edmund Burke)
Originally posted by Bajahowodd
... not so long ago, the average Mexican took great pride in the modern resort developments like Cabo and Cancun as evidence of Mexico's emergence
from third world obscurity.
and now?
They found out they weren't allowed on the premisses without a leaf-blower strapped to their back.
"If it were lush and rich, one could understand the pull, but it is fierce and hostile and sullen.
The stone mountains pile up to the sky and there is little fresh water. But we know we must go back
if we live, and we don't know why." - Steinbeck, Log from the Sea of Cortez
"People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care." - Theodore Roosevelt
"You can easily judge the character of others by how they treat those who they think can do nothing for them or to them." - Malcolm Forbes
"Let others lead small lives, but not you. Let others argue over small things, but not you. Let others
cry over small hurts, but not you. Let others leave their future in someone else's hands, but not you." - Jim Rohn
"The best way to get the right answer on the internet is not to ask a question; it's to post the wrong answer." - Cunningham's Law
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