What would your price be for a permanent tattoo?
For some Austrians, that amounts to a year of free travel on public transport, as a controversial campaign for the country’s “KlimaTicket” (climate ticket) revealed.
Austria’s KlimaTicket is a public transport pass worth 1,000 euros (£860/$1,070) – and the promotion offered one to anyone who wanted to turn their body into advertising space and get a permanent tattoo on it. word KlimaTicket on his skin.
Pop-up tattoo parlors were set up at the recent Frequency and Electric Love festivals in Austria, and the first three people to show up at each event to get a tattoo were given the pass.
The campaign was a government initiative to promote the KlimaTicket and the importance of public transport.
Austria’s KlimaTicket is a public transport pass worth 1,000 euros (£860/$1,070) – and one promotion offered one to anyone willing to turn their body into advertising space and get a stylish tattoo. permanently the word KlimaTicket on his skin.
For those wanting to support the cause with something less permanent, free temporary tattoos have been offered with designs relating to public transport, sustainability and climate change.
Austrian Climate Minister Leonore Gewessler sported one of these temporary tattoos, depicting the KlimaTicket mascot.
The project received mixed reactions, with some applauding it and others criticizing the minister for using people’s skin to publicize her policies.
Writing on X, formerly Twitter, Henrike Brandstöttermember of the Austrian NEOS party, said: “Offering money for advertising under the skin – and this from a minister – reveals an unacceptable view of humanity.”
Another user asked: “Is this such an exemplary action? Motivate young adults to get tattoos?
While ‘Mathias Neumayr” wrote: “The whole thing is a marketing and PR campaign that appeals very well to the local target group. ”
Pop-up tattoo parlors (above) were set up at the recent Frequency and Electric Love festivals in Austria, and the first three people to show up at each event were given the pass.
A spokesperson for the Austrian Ministry of Climate Action told MailOnline Travel: ‘Naturally, the campaign can be seen as more provocative, but people who voluntarily decided to get a tattoo had to be at least 18 years old in Austria.
“So we are talking about adults at an age where they decide for themselves their profession, decide to get married, build a house or even get a tattoo.”
The KlimaTicket annual pass costs 1,095 euros and allows customers to use all regular services in Austria – public and private – for one year from the date of purchase.
It is part of a program intended to encourage Austrians to use public transport as a climate-friendly alternative to cars, according to the Klima Ticket website.
