Thaindian News

The officials said on Tuesday that more than 18,000 people from nearly 200 countries have applied for the ‘best job in the world’ hoping to earn good money for lazing around on an Australian island.

The deadline for applications for the post of ‘caretaker’ of tropical Hamilton Island on the Great Barrier Reef looms on Sunday and the competition is already tough, the Queensland state government warned.

Candidates are required to create a video application in English of up to one minute explaining why they are qualified for the job and the pay is A$150,000 Australian dollars for six months and includes free airfares from the successful candidate’s home country to the white sands and clear waters of Hamilton Island.

The successful candidate who will stay in a multi-million-dollar three-bedroom beach home must be over 18, and also includes ‘fantastic and charismatic’ communicator, and able to speak and write English.

The campaign is a key element in a drive to promote the northeastern Australian state’s A$18-billion a year tourism industry during the tough global economic climate, officials say.

Tourism Queensland said in the statement that a shortlist of 50 applicants will be announced on March 2, the final 11 candidates will be flown to the island for interviews from May 3, and the winner will be announced on May 6.