The way in which the British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen portrayed Kazakhstan through the character of Borat, consternated the country years ago. The parody was never projected in Kazakhstan. The Kazakh government published advertisements in the American media showing the “true form of the country”, and threatened to sue the comedian for insult.
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It was not until 2012 that Kazakhstan more or less forgave Cohen, the then Foreign Minister admitted that the number of tourist visas issued had increased tenfold since the film’s release.
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They chose the opposite approach
A few days ago, Amazon Prime released the second episode, in which Borat goes to the United States again. Among other things, it tries to get American politicians to compromise, the AP said.
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Kazakhstan was not enthusiastic about the continuation of the film and called it racist and xenophobic, but it no longer intends to protest against it, not to advertise the film. The country has taken the opposite approach – the Kazakh Tourism Authority uses the phrase “very nice” to attract foreign tourists to the country.
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In the video, tourists use Borat’s famous phrase when they admire Kazakh mountains, lakes, a food market or a view of a futuristic-looking city.
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The idea came from the American Dennis Keen, who lives in Kazakhstan and is engaged in tourism. Borat’s phrase “very nice” is, in his good sense, an accurate description of the country. At the same time, the Kazakh tourist office hopes that when the coronavirus pandemic subsides, the video clip will attract more visitors to the country.
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“And they will see that Borat’s homeland is prettier than they may have heard,” said Kajrat Sadvakasov, head of the tourist office.
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