Tourism Queensland’s Best Job in the World Top 50 announced
A charity fundraiser, dance instructor, physiotherapist, chef, radio DJ, scientist, actor, interpreters, adventurers, students, television journalists and photographers are among Tourism Queensland’s Top 50 candidates for the Best Job in the World, Tourism Minister Desley Boyle today revealed.
(Media-Newswire.com) - A charity fundraiser, dance instructor, physiotherapist, chef, radio DJ, scientist, actor, interpreters, adventurers, students, television journalists and photographers are among Tourism Queensland’s Top 50 candidates for the Best Job in the World, Tourism Minister Desley Boyle today revealed.
Releasing the much-anticipated list, Ms Boyle said the candidates came from 22 countries across the globe: the US, Canada, Germany, the UK, Russia, Sweden, the Netherlands, France, Greece, Ireland, India, China, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, Guam, New Zealand, Kenya and Australia.
“Tourism Queensland’s offices across the globe have been burning the midnight oil short-listing the 34,684 applications for Islands of the Great Barrier Reef caretaker,” she said.
“Yesterday, a team of Tourism Queensland marketing and international staff along with a professional recruitment company made the very tough decisions necessary to cut the short-list to the Top 50.
“I understand it was a robust discussion but what it boiled down to was the motivation and professionalism of the applicants and their ‘fit’ with the job and Tourism Queensland.
“The top 50 videos are now online on the campaign website: www.islandreefjob.com and make for compulsive and entertaining viewing.
“There’s everything from action and adventure, comedy, animation and a choreographed musical number that just stays with you!”
The Top 50 will be narrowed down to a final 11, ten of whom will be chosen by Tourism Queensland, and an 11th ’wild card’ applicant chosen by popular vote.
These top 10 and the wild card candidate will fly to Hamilton Island in early May to take part in the final selection process with the successful candidate announced on May 6.
The successful applicant will begin work on July 1.
Ms Boyle said the worldwide response to Tourism Queensland’s global marketing campaign had been nothing short of phenomenal.
The campaign offers a unique ‘Island Caretaker’ role – an $AUD150,000 contract for six months - based on Hamilton Island exploring the Islands of the Great Barrier Reef.
“The campaign has largely relied on public relations and social networking activity,” she said.
“It’s captured the imagination of the world and to date it’s generated more than $70 million in publicity value.
“Apart from brilliant television, radio and newspaper coverage, the campaign has been the catalyst for special online discussion groups, bulletin boards, blogs and websites with applicants critiquing their competition, having detailed discussions and swapping ideas and tips.
“Of course there are some people who are disappointed at not making the Top 50, but Tourism Queensland has also received many wonderful messages from candidates thanking them for the opportunity to participate.
“Many said they really enjoyed making the videos, learning about the Great Barrier Reef and they’ve made some great friends.
“The key for Tourism Queensland and the wider Queensland tourism industry is to convert this phenomenal global interest into visitors to Queensland.
“I know Tourism Queensland is busy working with tourism operators and international wholesalers and I hope to be able to share more news about that soon.”
For further information on the selection process, including timelines, visit www.islandreefjob.com.
Shortlisted 50 Applicants – Under strict embargo until 10am Qld time 3 March 09 To view applicants visit www.islandreefjob.com
Applicant Name Region Country of Origin Mark Ashbuy Sherman Oaks, California United States Chris Bray Sydney, New South Wales Australia Anny Chih Burnaby, British Columbia Canada Sandra Crane Bethlahem, Connecticut United States Rafaelito DeAusen Barrigada Guam Achim Dold Emmendingen, Baden -Wurttemberg Germany Christine Estima Toronto, Ontario Canada Clarke Gayford Auckland New Zealand Ben Henry Lyon, Rhone-Aples France Magali Heuberger Amsterdam Netherlands James Hill Shute Harbour, Queensland Australia Linda Hoang Edmonton, Alberta Canada Kim Jagtiani Mumbai India Kiran Jethwa Nairobi Kenya Hamish Johnston Melbourne, Victoria New Zealand George Karellas Bettystown, County Meath Ireland Juweon Kim Seoul Korea Mieko Kobayashi Tokyo Japan Cali Lewis Dallas, Texas United States Sarah Louise Lane Angel, London United Kingdom Gina Maeng Seochogu, Seoul Korea Sheree Marris Elwood, Victoria Australia Felippe Mela Stockholm Sweden Sam Miyano Pitt Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Japan Jackie Miao Kota Kinabalu, Sabah Malaysia Kat Mitsopoulos Athens Greece Mitchell Moffit Guelph, Ontario Canada Marcella Moser Vancouver, British Columbia Canada Mirjam Novak Nueremburg, Bavaria Germany Angelene Orth New York United States Greg Reynen Singapore Singapore Anjaan RJ Bangalore India Steven Rogers Tyler, Texas United States Erik Rolfsen Vancouver, British Columbia Canada Melissa Schenk Stratford, Ontario Canada Manon Schmidin Mundolsheim, Alsace France Holly Smale Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire United Kingdom Ben Southall Petersfield, Hampshire United Kingdom Adeline St.Romain Los Angeles, California United States Douglas Stidolph Guildford, Surrey United Kingdom Nila Tanzil Jakarta Indonesia Hailey Turner Brisbane, Queensland Australia Iris van Nispen Utrecht Netherlands Clare Wang Banciao, Taipei Taiwan Karyna Wallace Zushi, Kanagawa Japan David Whitehill Gold Coast, Queensland Australia Jimmy Wong Singapore Singapore Julia Yalovitsyna Pertozavodsk, Karelia Russia Yi Yao Guangzhou, Guandong China Ying Yu Beijing China
Further information: Tourism Minister – 07 3225 1005 Tourism Queensland – 07 3535 5588
This story was released on 2009-03-04. Please make sure to visit the official company or organization web site to learn more about the original release date. See our disclaimer for additional information.