Tourism Queensland is searching the globe for candidates for what it describes as the “Best Job in the World” – an AUD$150,000 six-month contract for the role of Island Caretaker based on a Great Barrier Reef island.

Airfares and live-in accommodation on tropical Hamilton Island are included and applicants can come from anywhere in the world. A broad range of experience will be considered and the successful candidate must be willing to explore the Islands of the Great Barrier Reef, swim, snorkel, make friends with the locals and generally enjoy the tropical Queensland climate and lifestyle.

According to Tourism Queensland’s CEO Anthony Hayes, if the job sounded too good to be true, there was one catch.

“The successful applicant will need to live on Hamilton Island for six-months, travel amongst the Islands of the Great Barrier Reef and report back on their adventures to a global audience via weekly blogs, photo diaries and video updates,” said Mr Hayes.

“They’ll also have to talk to media from time to time about what they’re doing so they can’t be too shy and they’ll have to love the sea, the sun, the outdoors - which may of course not appeal to everyone.” Mr Hayes said while the “Best Job in the World” might sound like an elaborate marketing and PR campaign it was in fact a genuine job.

“Yes, this is part of a unique Tourism Queensland strategy to promote the Islands of the Great Barrier Reef internationally, but candidates will have to go through a genuine recruitment process,” Mr Hayes said.

“They will need to submit an application, take part in interviews, meet Australian visa requirements and will have set duties.

“The fact that they will be paid to explore the Islands of the Great Barrier Reef, swim, snorkel and generally live the Queensland lifestyle makes this what is undoubtedly the best job in the world.” Mr Hayes said the “Best Job in the World” campaign would kick off a three year, $1.7 million global marketing strategy aimed at increasing the profile of Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef islands, which stretch from Bundaberg in the state’s south more than 2,600 to the Tropical North.

“No one has done anything like this before and the concept aims to showcase Queensland’s unique island experiences and provide something different in what is a very competitive global travel environment,” he said.

“We want to show the rest of the world just how amazing the islands of the Great Barrier Reef are through the eyes of someone who is exploring the destination first-hand.” According to Mr Hayes the “Best Job in the World” was the type of cutting edge marketing strategy Tourism Queensland was renowned for.

“We have one of the most amazing destinations in the world and as Queenslanders we are fortunate to have it all on our doorstep,” he said.

“We want to open our doors to the world and invite one lucky person come and live the Queensland lifestyle themselves for six months and then tell the rest of the world about their experiences.” Mr Hayes said some people might question whether it was risky to let an unknown and unqualified individual become the lynch-pin for a major international marketing campaign “When we first floated the idea with our industry partners they absolutely loved it and we have received fantastic support from local industry in the Islands of the Great Barrier Reef” he said.

“I think the biggest risk will be that the successful candidate won’t want to go home at the end of the six months,” he said.

Mr Hayes said the successful candidate would be paid a salary package of AUD $150,000 for the six month contract and would receive return airfares from the nearest capital city in their home country, accommodation on Hamilton Island, travel insurance for the contract period, computer, internet, digital video and stills camera access, plus travel to a number of the other Islands of the Great Barrier Reef.

Applications open from January 10 to February 22, 2009. Tourism Queensland and their representatives in international markets will select ten candidates and visitors to www.islandreefjob.com will have the chance to select one Wild Card candidate. The final 11 shortlisted candidates will be flown to Hamilton Island in early May for the final selection process and the six-month contract will commence on July 1 2009. The campaign activity will run in the Australian domestic market and 10 key international markets, making it Tourism Queensland’s first truly global campaign.

“The campaign will be supported by extensive PR and digital marketing activities, advertising in major national print and online media outlets throughout the world, tactical cross- promotion marketing with local travel and media partners and in store promotion with participating travel partners,” he said.

Mr Hayes said the campaign was being funded cooperatively by Tourism Queensland, major partner Hamilton Island, regional partners and local industry.

“This is a legitimate job which is open to anyone and everyone,” Mr Hayes said.

“Well almost everyone – as much as I would love to, I don’t think I’ll be allowed to apply.” Potential applicants can apply on www.islandreefjob.com and visitors to the site can learn more about Australia’s unique Islands of the Great Barrier Reef.

For information on the destination please visit www.queenslandholidays.com.au

Continuing with business development measures, in 2009 Garuda Indonesia will operate at least 18 new routes in both the domestic and regional sectors, while the arrival of 14 new B 737 NGs (New Generation) starting in mid 2009 will help to realize the airline’s network expansion plans.

The proposed routes are as follows:

1. Jakarta - Tanjungkarang (Lampung)

2. Jakarta - Malang (East Java)

3. Jakarta – Makassar – Kendari (Southeast Sulawesi)

4. Jakarta – Makassar – Gorontalo

5. Jakarta – Makassar – Sorong (Papua)

6. Jakarta – Makassar – Ambon

7. Jakarta – Makassar – Palu (Central Sulawesi)

8. Jakarta - Jambi (Jambi)

9. Jakarta - Manado – Ternate (Southeast Maluku)

10. Jakarta - Balikpapan – Tarakan

11. Jakarta – Pangkal Pinang

12. Denpasar – Lombok (West Nusa Tenggara)

13. Denpasar – Kupang (East Nusa Tenggara)

14. Denpasar – Adelaide (Australia)

15. Denpasar – Hongkong

16. Surabaya – Hongkong

17. Jakarta – Shanghai (China) – Denpasar – Jakarta

18. Yogyakarta – Singapore.

While some of the routes are ‘new services’, others are ‘old routes’ that will be re-opened in stages.

For the Yogyakarta – Singapore route, Garuda Indonesia began services on December 16, 2008 flying three times a week, every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Meanwhile, with the increase of Chinese tourists to the country, Garuda Indonesia changed its Jakarta – Shanghai – Jakarta service to Jakarta – Shanghai – Denpasar – Jakarta, effective from December 20, 2008, thus enabling travelers from China to fly direct to Denpasar.

Other routes, such as Jakarta – Tanjungkarang, Jakarta – Malang, and Jakarta – Makassar – Kendari in the domestic sector and international flights from Surabaya to Hongkong and Denpasar to Hongkong will be opened in mid January 2009 and served seven times a week.


Garuda Indonesia President & CEO, Emirsyah Satar explained that by 2013 Garuda Indonesia’s aircraft fleet is expected to grow by threefold with a total of 128 aircraft, thanks to new fleet additions comprising 50 B 737NGs and 10 B 777-300ERs, and arriving in 2009, as well as the ongoing aircraft revitalization measures that will gradually replace old aircraft with more sophisticated and efficient ones. At present, Garuda Indonesia operates 54 modern jet aircraft, consisting of three wide body B 747-400 aircraft, six A-330s, and six Boeing 737 NGs, as well as 39 narrow body aircraft of the Boeing 737 series. “Backed by 128 aircraft, in 2013 Garuda Indonesia will make a “quantum leap” into the future”, Emirsyah further added.

Meanwhile, to accommodate the rising flow of travelers during the long Christmas and New Year holidays which extends from December 22, 2008 until January 04, 2009, Garuda Indonesia has increased its seating capacity to over 29 thousand seats to various destinations, such as Jakarta – Denpasar (18.650 seats) , Jakarta – Makassar (1.248 seats), Jakarta – Singapore (1.024 seats), Jakarta – Hongkong (3.516 seats), Denpasar – Singapore (898 seats), and Denpasar – Surabaya (854 seats).

During the recent Christmas holidays (December 22 – 27, 2008), Garuda Indonesia achieved 85% to 95% in seat load factor. The flow of returning travelers from January 1 till January 5, 2008 also experienced a rise of up to 95% with services to several destination cities, such as Denpasar, Medan, and Yogyakarta experiencing a super peak in passenger flow

Buenos Aires, the ruins of The Lost City of the Incas at Machu Picchu, three days cruising the Amazon River, then Rio de Janeiro and the spectacular Iguassu Falls are highlights of a 24-day escorted South America tour in May of next year with off-the-beaten track, Far Horizons.

Other exotic features include a coastal train ride from Buenos Aires to Tigre and a boat trip through the Parana Delta, two nights in Lima and two in the once-Inca capital of Cuzco, including a stay at an Orient-Express luxury hotel within a restored 16th century monastery 3,500m high in the mountains.

For the adventurous there's a motorised canoe ride to the remote cities of Leticia and Tabatinga, Manaus with its fabled Opera House built of stone from Portugal, marble from Italy and with chandeliers from Venice, a boat ride on the Rio Negro River, and legendary Rio de Janeiro including a cable car ride to the summit of Sugar Loaf Mountain, Mount Corcovado with its 700m high statue of Christ, and a stay at a colonial-style hotel during a visit to the 270-cataract Iguassu Falls.

Prices start from $27,250pp twin-share including return air and taxes from Sydney, a Far Horizon escort and local guides, twin-share accommodation, all meals, sightseeing and entry fees.

Full details on 1800 083 141 or www.farhorizons.com.au