AUSTRALIA: Australian tourism officials are looking for a caretaker for the islands of the Great Barrier Reef

Record ID: 556010

  • Title: AUSTRALIA: Australian tourism officials are looking for a caretaker for the islands of the Great Barrier Reef
  • Date: 13th January 2009
  • Summary: BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA (JANUARY 13, 2009) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) CEO OF TOURISM QUEENSLAND ANTHONY HAYES SAYING: "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 are all in the tourism industry 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."
  • Embargoed: 28th January 2009 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Australia
  • Country: Australia
  • Topics: Lifestyle
  • Reuters ID: LVA3KW9XUS6UXGGC78PEF8T2ACA3
  • Story Text: 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.
    "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," said Anthony Hayes CEO of Tourism Queensland.
    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.
    To offset the drudgery, the state of Queensland is offering 150,000 Australian dollars ($105,000), accommodation in a luxury three-bedroom house and transportation to and from the island.
    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, she said.
    "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 are all in the tourism industry 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 two-hundred visitors to its website.
    Applications are open until the end of February.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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