‘Portugal, the best destination’: the case study of a CSR communication that changed mentalities and increased business performance

Abstract

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices have shown evidence of success in marketing and business outcomes, even during financial crisis periods and in the context of small businesses. This paper presents a case study of a small company producing digital albums that launched a digital communication campaign aiming to increase the habits of taking and printing digital photos. The campaign also aimed at creating a more positive image about Portugal’s future in a financial crisis context and increasing tourism activities and a sense of national self-esteem among people. The campaign ‘Portugal, the best destination’ invited everyone in Portugal to show the country as a tourist destination of excellence, participating with photos that would be added to the largest photo book recognised by The Guinness World of Records. The buzz created by such a low budget campaign solved the organisation’s lack of awareness and the lack of photography printing routines among consumers, while bringing a Portuguese sense of pride and helping create an external public opinion about the country.