Baz Luhrmann seeks Australian tourism boost

The Australian tourist board has commissioned Baz Luhrmann to improve the nation's flagging tourism industry.

Luhrmann has recently completed World War II epic Australia, starring Nicole Kidman (who previously worked with Luhrmann on Moulin Rouge) and Hugh Jackman, and has created advertisements for the country from the footage.

The advertisements will being airing around the world tomorrow.

"The Hogan ads put Australia on the map and helped build the personality of Australia in people's minds," said Olivia Wirth, executive director of the Tourism & Transport Forum, a lobby group representing 200 tourism companies in Australia.

"The next campaign needs to do the same, appeal to people on an emotional level."

Paul Hogan put Australia on the map as a tourist destination with his film Crocodile Dundee, which began the highest grossing film of 1986.

Tourism is the third most important source of income for Australia behind minerals and coal. While it generates A$20 billion (£7.4 billion) annually, growth has stalled in recent years, following growth of 250 per cent over the previous 15 years.

One of Luhrmann's adverts can be seen below:



Chris O'Toole