Tourism Queensland – Social media campaign for Reef stunt isn’t us
Tourism Queensland has categorically denied that it is behind a social networking campaign targeting web sites with messages about its Best Job In The World stunt.
The effort, in which one person will win a paid job as “caretaker” of the islands of the Barrier Reef, launched on Monday and has generated huge PR coverage across the world.
Last night, a message started appearing on comment boards from “Jess” claiming that she was trying to raise money to go and live there as she didn’t think she would win. It provides a link to a site which in turn links to a Paypal account to apparently help her raise funds.
The site appeared so quickly after the launch of the campaign, it seems likely it was either a quick-acting scam artist or part of a deceptive social marketing campaign from Tourism Queensland. Mumbrella has previously suggested that some of the early videos posted on the Tourism Queensland site were suspicious as they appeared before any publicity had taken place. The mainstream press have nonetheless reported the claim from the woman in the video that she had got a tattoo in order to win.
But this afternoon, a spokesman for Tourism Queensland categorically denied any involvement. She told Mumbrella: “I can confirm that this is not the work of Tourism Queensland or our agency.” She said that the organisation’s digital team would look at the site before deciding any further action.
Tim Burrowes founded Mumbrella in 2008. He worked on Mumbrella until 2021. At various points he was editor, content director and editor-at-large.
Linkedin