Oprah Winfrey to tour Australia in bid to promote tourism
Guess who's coming to Australia? It's Oprah and 300 audience from her Chicago studio. Oprah's trip to Down Under is part of Australia's tourism promotion and it cost more than $3 million dollars from the federal and NSW government.
Tourism Minister Martin Ferguson said $3 million is well spent on Oprah since Hollywood's top earning host's show has 40 million following, and is currently syndicated in 145 countries. This, Mr. Ferguson said, represents an opportunity to showcase everything that Australia has to offers to tourists.
"This truly represents an amazing opportunity to showcase Australia, the warmth and hospitality of our people and the depth and breadth of everything our country has to offer visitors from around the world," the Tourism Minister said."We as a nation will win as a result of this coup."
Oprah's trip to Australia is in partnership with Qantas and will be partly financed by Tourism Australia's $1.5 million from its current financial year marketing budget. NSW Premier Kristina Keneally said the state government would shoulder between $1 million and $2 million.
Around 3000 of Winfrey's fans from Australia will be invited to sit in the audience at Sydney Opera House. The tickets will only be available by a lottery through an online registration at Oprah's website oprah.com and ten.com.au opening in October. The show will be aired in Australia in January 2011.