ID :
58737
Mon, 05/04/2009 - 07:52
Auther :

Finalists arrive for 'best job in world'




Despite wide smiles and hugs all round, behind the laughter and camaraderie lurks a
steely determination to win The Best Job in the World.
The 16 final candidates from 15 countries arrived on Hamilton Island on Sunday, for
the final round of interviews in the Queensland tourism promotion.
It will determine who spends the next six months exploring the delights of the Great
Barrier Reef, and sharing the experience on the world wide web to promote the
region.
The winner will also get to live in an island cottage, and pocket $150,000.
But Tourism Queensland CEO Anthony Hayes won't bat an eyelid when he signs the pay
cheque, not after the astounding success of the competition which has surpassed
everyone's wildest expectations.
"We were confident we had a pretty good idea, but the result's been absolutely
brilliant," Mr Hayes said.
"We think we've just tipped over $100 million in international publicity with
hopefully another $20 to $30 million coming this week.
"At a tough time it's absolutely essential to turn it into bookings to make sure
people are actually coming here for a holiday," he said.
Not a moment was wasted on the flight from Brisbane to Hamilton Island.
A BBC crew shot footage for an hour-long documentary, photographers snapped away
incessantly and TV teams grabbed interviews in the aisles.
The candidates were having a ball - funny, engaging and confident as they shuffled
from one interview to another.
On landing there was an even bigger media scrum.
The international crews were waiting, including teams from France, Germany and Japan.
There was even Kei Shimizu, a famous Japanese comedian waving an ornate fan and
wearing something that looked like a cross between pyjamas and a kimono.
He and a Japanese media horde plus a few fans swamped their country's finalist -
diminutive Mieko Kobayashi who somehow managed to survive the melee.
The finalists were whipped off the plane straight into the resort pool to
demonstrate their aquatic skills before they're let loose on the reef.
It was another opportunity for more comic nonsense and hilarity.
But one thing is clear.
Tourism Queensland has dipped its net into the deep end of the talent pool, and no
matter who they haul out, they'll be well served.




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