Embrace the nation, urges Thailand's Tourism Authority

The video starts off: “Hug the sky, hug the stream, hug the mountain, hug the prairie. Then let the tree hug you.” For the full translation, check out the Campaignasia.com post.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand has launched a cutesy new campaign aimed at kick-starting the country’s domestic travel market following the recent political unrest. 

Dubbed “Hug Thailand,” the 60-second TV spot encourages people to “embrace the country's appealing elements", explains a post on PR news website Campaignasia.com. This includes buffaloes, even though the Thai word for the animal (kwai) is often used to refer to someone perceived to be lacking in intelligence. We'll leave you to debate the symbolic use of this one.

"We used the act of ‘hugging' as a metaphor to encourage the Thai people to cherish and heal the country by resuming their domestic travels,” the site quotes a Leo Burnett Thailand exec as saying. “The genuine, relaxed tone and manner of the campaign is intended to put smiles back on people's faces."

You have to admit, the video is cute. And when it comes to titles, we much prefer "Hug Thailand" to the country's new campaign targeted at internatonal tourists: “Amazing Thailand -- Always Amazes You.”