WONG:
Depressed about the global economy, unemployed, or just looking for adventure? Then look no further because a tiny Australian island is offering a dream job, advertising globally to find the right person.
STORY:
Australian tourism officials are looking for a caretaker for the islands of the Great Barrier Reef.
[Anthony Hayes, CEO Queensland Tourism]:
"This really is the best job in the world. It is a six month contract when you live in this beautiful luxury house, it is probably four or five million dollar house, right on the edge of Hamilton island looking out of the Pacific. We'll pay you 150,000 Australian dollars which is roughly 75,000 Euros for the six month contract and your job in a nutshell is to travel through out the islands of the Great Barrier Reef, experiencing everything that the islands have to offer."
The caretaker will spend six months visiting Hamilton Island promoting tourism through a video blog.
Duties include feeding ocean fish, cleaning a pool and collecting deliveries of mail that arrive by plane.
But the employee is also required to go scuba diving, snorkeling and hiking and to enjoy at least 25 nearby island resorts.
No skills or experience are required for the job that starts in July and there is no age requirement.
Queensland created the job as an antidote to the global economic slump and is advertising in 18 countries including the United States and China.
[Anthony Hayes, CEO Queensland Tourism]:
"I suspect the biggest catch is going to be trying to get rid of them after six months. I suspect somebody will want to stay forever. It is obviously a bit of fun but there is a serious side to it. I think we in the tourism industry are in for a fairly difficult twelve months ahead not just in Australia but worldwide the tourism industry is in for a difficult time. Our role is to try help our industry overcome the difficulties of the next 12 months, protect jobs."
Applicants must submit a one-minute video expressing interest in the Great Barrier Reef, a vast coral reef system that is classed as one of the seven natural wonders of the world.
The campaign has already drawn more than 200 visitors to its website.
Applications are open until the end of February.
Depressed about the global economy, unemployed, or just looking for adventure? Then look no further because a tiny Australian island is offering a dream job, advertising globally to find the right person.
STORY:
Australian tourism officials are looking for a caretaker for the islands of the Great Barrier Reef.
[Anthony Hayes, CEO Queensland Tourism]:
"This really is the best job in the world. It is a six month contract when you live in this beautiful luxury house, it is probably four or five million dollar house, right on the edge of Hamilton island looking out of the Pacific. We'll pay you 150,000 Australian dollars which is roughly 75,000 Euros for the six month contract and your job in a nutshell is to travel through out the islands of the Great Barrier Reef, experiencing everything that the islands have to offer."
The caretaker will spend six months visiting Hamilton Island promoting tourism through a video blog.
Duties include feeding ocean fish, cleaning a pool and collecting deliveries of mail that arrive by plane.
But the employee is also required to go scuba diving, snorkeling and hiking and to enjoy at least 25 nearby island resorts.
No skills or experience are required for the job that starts in July and there is no age requirement.
Queensland created the job as an antidote to the global economic slump and is advertising in 18 countries including the United States and China.
[Anthony Hayes, CEO Queensland Tourism]:
"I suspect the biggest catch is going to be trying to get rid of them after six months. I suspect somebody will want to stay forever. It is obviously a bit of fun but there is a serious side to it. I think we in the tourism industry are in for a fairly difficult twelve months ahead not just in Australia but worldwide the tourism industry is in for a difficult time. Our role is to try help our industry overcome the difficulties of the next 12 months, protect jobs."
Applicants must submit a one-minute video expressing interest in the Great Barrier Reef, a vast coral reef system that is classed as one of the seven natural wonders of the world.
The campaign has already drawn more than 200 visitors to its website.
Applications are open until the end of February.
APRIL 2009
The selection process for The Best Job in the World is winding down. 16 candidates remain, but only one of them will become the representative for Australia's Great Barrier Reef.
With beautiful turquoise waters and white sandy beaches, Australias Great Barrier Reef attracts thousands of tourists every year.
Earlier this year The Best Job in the World was launched. The role is to be an island caretaker with a six-figure salary for six months of work.
34-thousand applicants applied for the job via YouTube, and now its down to just 16 lucky finalists. They come from places like Japan, Canada, China and even Australia.
The job received so much interest that the company's website initially crashed.
Officials say "The Best Job in the World" has generated publicity worth over a hundred-million dollars.
Tourism Queensland says it's just as important to get the right person for the job as getting publicity for the area.
[Anthony Hayes, CEO, Tourism QLD]:
"It has been strict all the way through and we have been paranoid about making sure that we have been fare and equitable with everyone who has applied. Thirty-four and a half thousand people sent us a one minute to start with so we needed to be really clean and careful to make sure that we treat everyone equally.
The winner, whoever he or she may be, will be announced in May.
MAY 2009
A winner has been announced in the best job in the world competition. Let's go to Queensland to find out the result.
[Anna Bligh, Queensland Premier]:
"From the United Kingdom, Ben Southall."
After an innovative marketing campaign by Tourism Queensland, 34-year-old Briton, Ben Southall was picked from 16 finalists in a highly publicized contest for 'the best job in the world'.
[Ben Southhall, Best Job in the World Winner]:
"I hope I can fill the boots as much as everybody is expecting, my swimming hopefully is up to standard and I look forward to all of the new roles and the responsibilities that the task involves."
Tourism Queensland hailed the advertising campaign as an enormous success, saying they managed to get $110 million worth of publicity for $1.7 million spent.
The campaign attracted nearly 34,700 video entries from almost 200 countries and surpassed all expectations in promoting tourism in the Australian state.
The job description? To explore the islands of the Great Barrier Reef for six months and report back to Tourism Queensland and the world via blogs, a photo diary, video updates and interviews.
Also, if you feel like it, feed the fish, collect the mail and clean the pool - for $110,000.
Southall said he was looking forward to the job and he will be joined by his Canadian girlfriend soon.
The campaign highlighted the marketing potential of websites such as YouTube and Facebook.
Marketing experts say the announcement of the winner, who starts work on July 1, will not end the publicity.
[Anna Bligh, Queensland Premier]:
"From the United Kingdom, Ben Southall."
After an innovative marketing campaign by Tourism Queensland, 34-year-old Briton, Ben Southall was picked from 16 finalists in a highly publicized contest for 'the best job in the world'.
[Ben Southhall, Best Job in the World Winner]:
"I hope I can fill the boots as much as everybody is expecting, my swimming hopefully is up to standard and I look forward to all of the new roles and the responsibilities that the task involves."
Tourism Queensland hailed the advertising campaign as an enormous success, saying they managed to get $110 million worth of publicity for $1.7 million spent.
The campaign attracted nearly 34,700 video entries from almost 200 countries and surpassed all expectations in promoting tourism in the Australian state.
The job description? To explore the islands of the Great Barrier Reef for six months and report back to Tourism Queensland and the world via blogs, a photo diary, video updates and interviews.
Also, if you feel like it, feed the fish, collect the mail and clean the pool - for $110,000.
Southall said he was looking forward to the job and he will be joined by his Canadian girlfriend soon.
The campaign highlighted the marketing potential of websites such as YouTube and Facebook.
Marketing experts say the announcement of the winner, who starts work on July 1, will not end the publicity.
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