Media Releases

Short-term jobs and holiday prizes on offer in new backpacker lure

Thursday, October 06, 2011

Tourism, Manufacturing and Small Business Minister Jan Jarratt has unveiled a new campaign to lure young Brits and Nordic travellers to Queensland.

“I am delighted to launch Work and Play which promises to take some of the stress out of travel as well as offer some great prizes,” Ms Jarratt said.

“We are offering backpackers a ready-made working holiday complete with a working holiday visa and a real, short-term job in some of Queensland’s top tourism hot spots,” she said.

“Thanks to the support of our partners and local tourism operators we have 18 free visas on offer – a saving of £270 each – for young Brit and Nordic travellers, along with a short-stay job so they can spend more time, energy and money playing in Queensland.

“Some of the jobs available include a guest services agent and housekeeping attendant with the At Hotel Group in the Whitsundays, and waiting positions at Enzo’s on the Beach in Hervey Bay and at Noosa Backpackers Resort.

“We have 37 participating businesses offering prizes or jobs, with short-term work placements available on the Gold Coast, in Brisbane and Moreton regions, the Sunshine Coast, Whitsundays and Far North Queensland.

“For those who don’t win a Work and Play ticket, there’s runner up prizes including a holiday to be won.

“The campaign is being run through Tourism Queensland in association with UK-based STA Travel and Nordic travel wholesaler Kilroy to appeal to young Brit and Scandinavian backpackers.

“Ultimately we want more Brits and Europeans travelling throughout Queensland, staying for longer and spending more, so this competition is showing off our amazing experiences and offering 18 chances to live the dream.

“To be in the running, UK and Nordic residents need to tell us why they deserve to escape their chilly northern hemisphere for some fun in the sun in Queensland.

“Work and Play is estimated to reach millions of young travellers through prominent online and print advertising across STA travel stores and websites, social media activities and email blasts out to the STA and Kilroy networks.”

Backpackers are an important international market for Queensland, tending to stay longer and travel to multiple locations. Queensland welcomed 665,000 international youth visitors in the year ending June 2011, with many staying in backpacker establishments on their trip.

The online competition is at www.experiencequeensland.com where visitors can also download a free essential guide to working and playing in Queensland. Entries close at the end of November. Visa conditions apply.