Tourism spokesperson:

“Advertising can hardly be more embarrassing than this video”

Tirol is popular with many tourists.

(Bild: mauritius images / Westend61 / Uwe Umstätter)

The tourism spokespersons of the Tyrolean parties are not mincing their words in the Tirol Werbung "burp video" case and expect "a serious error analysis". The Freedom Party is even calling on LR Mario Gerber (ÖVP) to "replace the people at the top with tourism professionals". 

"Tirol has an excellent reputation and this must not be carelessly jeopardized. I expect a serious error analysis so that such a faux pas does not happen again. Overall, the employees of Tirol Werbung and the Tyrolean tourism associations do an excellent job, which should not be denigrated by this one video," says VP tourism spokesperson LA Katrin Brugger.

I wonder what qualifications Karin Seiler, CEO of Tirol Werbung, has to be able to hold such a high position in Tirol Werbung.

FP-Tourismussprecher LA Alexander Gamper

LA Christian Kovacevic, tourism spokesperson for the SP, emphasizes: "Advertising can hardly be more embarrassing than the 'burp video' - and Tirol is undoubtedly unworthy of such marketing. The head-shaking of many tourism professionals is justified and the matter should be cleared up. But it remains to be seen whether politics is needed for this. In any case, I don't think it's necessary to make a 'unique scandal' out of it, as the Freedom Party is doing."

What will the many companies that have to pay tourism taxes for such experiments think?

Tourismussprecherin LA Petra Wohlfahrtstätter (Grüne)

"Replace acting persons with tourism professionals"
The FPÖ, on the other hand, adds. "I wonder what qualifications Karin Seiler, CEO of Tirol Werbung, has that she can hold such a high position in Tirol Werbung. This is not the first embarrassing lapse in brand communication to the outside world that Josef Margreiter has been responsible for in his relevant departments. In any case, LR Mario Gerber is called upon to finally put Tirol Werbung on a stable and sound footing. This also includes replacing the people at the top with tourism professionals," says FP tourism spokesperson LA Alexander Gamper.

"Tirol has more to offer than what can be seen in the 'burp video'," say some hoteliers.

(Bild: Jasmin Steiner)

"What will businesses think?"
"Not funny and tasteless" is how Green tourism spokesperson LA Petra Wohlfahrtstätter sees the video: "What will the many companies that have to pay tourism tax for such experiments think?" The question also arises as to why the video was made public at this particular time. "Was someone trying to lay an Easter egg for the head of Tirol Werbung?" asks the politician. 

When it comes to scandals, just think of the World Ski Championships in St. Moritz with the designation of origin of the supposedly regional dishes or his personal enrichment with the travel agency license.

Neos-Klubobmann LA Dominik Oberhofer

"LR Gerber turns the buck into a gardener"
As reported, LR Gerber has tasked Lebensraum Tirol Holding boss Josef Margreiter with investigating the matter. "But Josef Margreiter was solely responsible for every scandal in Tirol Werbung over the past 15 years, and there were many of them, and was successful in covering them up. LR Gerber is therefore passing the buck," says Neos club chairman LA Dominik Oberhofer. He elaborates: "When it comes to scandals, just think of the World Ski Championships in St. Moritz with the designation of origin of the supposedly regional dishes or his personal enrichment with the travel agency license. Not only did he sit out these scandals, he was even promoted to head of Lebensraum Tirol Holding." In contrast to Margreiter, Tirol Werbung CEO Karin Seiler shows "a genuine culture of error by taking responsibility for the 'burp video' and apologizing publicly". A quality that Margreiter "has always lacked", the politician is convinced. 

"Let's leave the church in the village"
And for Liste Fritz club chairman LA Markus Sint it is clear: "The video is nonsense and was obviously an accident. Tirol Werbung has apologized, so let's leave the church in the village. Tourism has more important problems."