• Bnet, Tuesday, March 15, 2011 10 AM

Jim Edwards writes that a lot of countries have cool logos to brand their countries as tourist destinations (my personal favorite is Mexico's, with Spain and Peru pretty close behind), but the U.S., which earned around $120 billion on tourism in 2009, isn't one. As Edwards illustrates, the United States' logo is a dreadful panache of Obama's presidential logo framed by the yawn-inducing "Discover America" in what looks to be Arial 14-point font. "With its stars and stripes, it looks like a presidential campaign logo," writes Edwards, "and says nothing about why foreigners should come here ... when was the last time you went on vacation to the most 'patriotic' destination you could afford?"

Other standout national logos: "Incredible !ndia," "Australia" (which has a Kangaroo silhouette framed by the orb of the sun). Egypt also has a great logo, as Edwards points out, though now it's unlikely it will be put to much use. The best logo, says Edwards -- and I agree -- is the Bahamas marque that is also featured in advertising and incorporates an abstract representation of the island chain as colored orbs.

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