A job paying one lucky person $A150,000 ($NZ179,576) to laze around a tropical island is expected to attract thousands of applications from across the globe in a massive tourism campaign for Queensland.
Tourism Queensland has put out a worldwide call for the dream job that will see the successful applicant live on the Great Barrier Reef's Hamilton Island for six months.
They will be required to explore the reef's islands, swim, snorkel, make friends with the locals and enjoy Queensland's climate and lifestyle.
They will also need to post their experiences, photos and video diaries on a weekly blog.
It is hoped the unique job will draw more thrillseekers to the Sunshine State.
Accommodation will be included, as will airfares from the applicant's home country, although Aussies are invited to apply too.
The `Best Job in the World' campaign is part of a $A1.7 million global marketing strategy and is expected to generate more than $A70 million worth of publicity for Queensland.
Tourism Whitsundays chief executive Peter O'Reilly said he expected thousands would apply.
"It'll be huge," he told AAP.
"Already we've seen the (media) alerts pour in from across the globe in languages that we're flat out working out where they're from, so it's a really good start."
Mr O'Reilly said the innovative campaign would would raise the state's profile at exactly the right time as holiday destinations fought even harder for a smaller pool of tourists because of the global financial crisis.
"It puts us on their shopping list and that's what destination marketing is all about," he said.
"It's not actually making the sale as much as raising awareness in people's minds so that when they do look they know to Google the word `Whitsundays'."
He said he imagined the campaign would draw some "crazy" characters and he hoped the blogs gained a cult following.
Applications are open until February 22 and 11 short-listed candidates will be flown to Hamilton Island in early May for the final selection process.
An announcement will be made on May 6 with the contract beginning on July 1.
