{"id":33395,"date":"2013-03-12T10:11:54","date_gmt":"2013-03-12T14:11:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.99cluster.com\/blog\/?p=33395"},"modified":"2026-02-17T07:05:22","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T12:05:22","slug":"best-and-worst-tourism-logos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vistaprint.com\/hub\/best-and-worst-tourism-logos","title":{"rendered":"The best and worst of the world’s tourism logos"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In 2013, the Economic Development Board of South Australia introduced a new brand identity to more or less unanimous mockery and derision. “A folded milk carton. A monopoly hotel. Hideously disappointing. Conservative and boring” declared one reporter.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"154110-sa-brand-logo\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

South Australia’s new logo drew derisive remarks like, “Last one out, please shut the door”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The debacle got us interested in the whole world of “destination branding” and holy smoke<\/i>, it is a weird, weird niche. Beyond the inherent strangeness in treating a location as a product to be branded (sometimes with its own tagline!\u2014”Texas: It’s like a whole other country”), we found the existing logos for the world’s countries and cities to completely run the gamut in terms of “cool” factor and basic quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\n Tip <\/div>\n
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Check out our article on ways to find logo inspiration<\/a> to come up with a great logo idea!<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n

For example, Amsterdam’s logo with the 3 X’s (found all around the city) is way too cool for school. We wouldn’t expect to find a logo this severely minimal outside the world of indie pop music, let alone in tourism. But it is balanced with the city’s “I AMsterdam” branding, which is a pleasing logo for any tourist:<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"amsterdamnew\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The Amsterdam tourism logo is stark and sleek.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The logo for the US state of Wisconsin, by contrast, is one of the dorkiest things we’ve ever seen:<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"wisconsin\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
Nothing says “fun” like the silhouette of an upside-down child<\/em><\/em><\/div>\n\n\n\n
 <\/div>\n\n\n\n
And this abstract design for the English town of Burnley? Truly beyond words:<\/div>\n\n\n
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\"burnley\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
It is hard to imagine this computer-generated rubberband ball-type-thing represents the character of small town Burnley<\/i><\/i><\/div>\n\n\n\n
 <\/div>\n\n\n\n
That’s just the tip of the iceberg. Without further adieu, the best and worst of the world’s destination logos.<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Best<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"victoria2\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

A striking, versatile mark for London’s central Victoria district<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"phl\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The US city of <Philadelphia takes a minimal approach, the beauty of which shines in its endless implementations <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"melbourne\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The crystalline, mathematical look of Melbourne’s logo has become the holy grail of destination branding <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"spturis_logo_detail\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

S\u00e3o Paolo’s logo is bright, inviting and legible without being generic <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"egypt\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Egypt’s logo is youthful, relaxed and seamlessly works in some traditional symbolism<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Print\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Peru’s logo likewise incorporates a cultural motif to produce a distinctive brand mark<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"url\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This rich mining area on the border of Germany and the Czech Republic selected a fantastic logo that is anything but provincial <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"url-1\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Finland’s logo is memorably abstract and incorporates gorgeous color <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"odessa\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Odessa’s simple anchor logo references its defining location on the coast of the Black Sea and is paired with a beautiful typeface<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"georgetown\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A star and playful brogue pattern nicely convey the character of this trendy district within the US capitol <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Worst<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"czech\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Hard to imagine it getting more basic than this. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"italia\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

That “T” looks like a number of things, none of which are the Italian peninsula. Add some awful upper\/lower case mixing and you get a real disaster<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"url\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

That abstract mark in the national colors just doesn’t quite say inviting<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"hague\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Hague, one of Holland’s most beautiful areas, is not well represented by this crude kite design<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"korea_logo\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Korea may be sparkling. This logo certainly is not<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"switzerland_logo\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Switzerland’s logo might just take the cake, with its combination of that weird golden starfish and the mystifying phrase “get natural”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"url-3\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I need Spain’s logo is a mix of too many different styles and fonts, making it hard to know where to focus.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Want to learn more? Check out our ultimate guide on how to design a logo<\/a> and learn what makes a good logo<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
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\n Want more inspiring logo design? <\/div>\n\n
\n Check out all our options and let our expertise bring your brand to life <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n
\n \n\n Try our Logomaker<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n

\nAuthor: Alex Bigman<\/strong>
\n<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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