SAVE $440 TO WORK AND PLAY IN QUEENSLAND

SAVE $440 TO WORK AND PLAY IN QUEENSLAND: New Working Holidayer Pass to Plug Thousands of Tourism Jobs Up for Grabs Across the Sunshine State

A new value-for-money travel pass set to save working holidaymakers hundreds of dollars on travel and bucket-list experiences across Queensland has launched today. Australia's most exciting holiday pass aims to lure working holiday visa holders to the Sunshine State to embark on a holiday of a lifetime and also relieve widespread labour shortages in Queensland, including more than 1,000 tourism and hospitality jobs currently on offer.

The Working Holidayer Pass is priced at $299 for a limited time[1] and includes one-way travel to Queensland from Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra on the Greyhound Australia coach network, plus unlimited travel on all Greyhound services throughout Queensland. The pass also features a $200 discount voucher for Queensland experiences redeemable through Backpacker Deals. The total retail value is $739, putting an extra $440 back into the pockets of young travellers.

The introductory offer is available until the end of August 2022 or until sold out, after which the pass will cost $539 – saving travellers $200.

More than 900 Queensland experiences can be redeemed on Backpacker Deals using the Working Holiday Pass voucher, including:

• Moreton Island Three Day 4WD Explorer Tour (Brisbane) – pay just $29 with the Working Holidayer Pass, normally $229
• Cape Tribulation, Daintree and Mossman Gorge Day Tour (Cairns & Great Barrier Reef) – pay only $36 with the Working Holidayer Pass, normally $236
• Whitsundays and Heart Reef One Hour Scenic Flight (Whitsundays) – pay only $49 with the Working Holidayer Pass, normally $249
• Noosa Tandem Skydive (Sunshine Coast) – pay just $59 with the Working Holidayer Pass, normally $259
• Ultimate Adrenaline Package Gold Coast - Surf & Skydive (Gold Coast) – pay only $225 with the Working Holidayer Pass, normally $425
• K'gari (Fraser Island) 3-Day 2-Night 4WD Adventure Tour (Fraser Coast) – pay just $349 with the Working Holidayer Pass, normally $549

Travelling to these destinations and experiences is easy with Greyhound Australia servicing 111 different Queensland locations across 6,000 kilometres - the same distance as three return trips between London and Berlin. Bucket list destinations on the Greyhound Australia network include Gold Coast, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Hervey Bay, Airlie Beach, Townsville and Cairns. Passholders can travel for 30 non-consecutive days over a three-month period, exploring the depth and breadth of Queensland and stopping to earn additional spending money.

Queensland is currently experiencing widespread labour shortages, with the unemployment rate sitting at four per cent in March 2022[2]. Meanwhile, the Australian Bureau of Statistics revealed 76,900 job vacancies in February 2022[3], a record number since the statistic was first published 39 years ago. For those looking for work in the hospitality and tourism sectors, the Work in Paradise hub currently is advertising around 1,262 employment opportunities across the state[4].

Queensland tourism operators in holiday hot spots like Cairns, the Whitsundays, Townsville and the World Heritage Listed Great Barrier Reef are ready to welcome working holidaymakers to their slice of paradise whether it be as new members of the workforce or as visitors.

Green Island Resort General Manager Sue O'Donnell said the Great Barrier Reef is the perfect place to gain wonderful life experiences in one of the most beautiful parts of the world, all while getting paid.

“The Great Barrier Reef tops the bucket list for so many travellers to Australia and we welcome working holidaymakers to not only experience it but also offer job opportunities for the right candidates,” Ms O'Donnell said.

“Green Island Resort is recruiting right now for chefs, food and beverage servers, through to housekeepers and front office team members where you can live on the island or commute from nearby Cairns.

“Working with the Quicksilver Group (Green Island Resort's parent company), there's also a lot of perks to get out and experience the Great Barrier Reef. It is quite literally on your doorstep of the resort and you can dive right in before or after work.”

In the Whitsundays, Hamilton Island CEO Pete Brulisauer said working holidaymakers are important to not only Hamilton Island but the entire tourism industry.

“The loss of skilled workers during the pandemic contributed to a labour shortfall across the industry so it is a relief to welcome them back,” Mr Brulisauer said.

“There are so many benefits to employing working holidaymakers, they bring such energy and diverse experience and culture to the island.

“And with winter quickly approaching if you want to escape the cold and have the time of your life in the tropics then Hamilton Island is the place to be. The weather is beautiful all year round and you'll make friends and memories to last a lifetime. It is the ultimate destination to live, work and play.

“We are actively looking for quality people to join our team and the beauty of Hamilton Island is that we offer an exceptional working holiday experience in one of the world's most desirable locations.”

The Working Holidayer Pass is on sale now. Visit queensland.com/workingholidayer to find out more about Australia's most exciting holiday pass. Meanwhile, working holiday visa holders seeking employment opportunities in the travel and hospitality industries are encouraged to visit Queensland's Work in Paradise hub to browse the latest jobs in some of the most picturesque destinations in the country.

[1] Special introductory offer of $299 for a limited time. Available until 31 August 2022 or until sold out.

[2] Source: https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/employment-and-unemployment/labour-force-australia/latest-release#states-and-territories

[3] Source: https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/jobs/job-vacancies-australia/latest-release#data-download

[4] Source: https://www.workinparadise.com.au/ as of 13 May 2022.

 Terms and Conditions: Please refer to individual partner websites (Greyhound Australia and Backpacker Deals) for terms and conditions related to the Working Holidayer Pass.

For the latest information on COVID-19 travel advice in Queensland, click here.

To keep up with the latest tourism news from Queensland subscribe to the Queensland Stories newsletter and visit queensland.com.

FACT SHEET: Everything you need to know

Working Holidayer Pass details:

• The Working Holidayer pass is valid over a three month period for 30 non-consecutive days of travel. The pass can be used at any point within the three month validity period, calculated from the date of the first leg of travel.
• A special introductory offer of $299 is available until the end of August or until sold out. After which the pass costs just $539, which includes a $200 discount voucher for experiences on Backpacker Deals. The total retail value of the pass is $739.
• The Working Holidayer Pass is valid on one-way travel to Queensland only from Sydney, Canberra or Melbourne (does not allow return travel interstate).
• Once in Queensland, working holidaymakers with a pass have the flexibility to travel wherever, and however, they like within the state. Includes unlimited travel on all Greyhound Australia services in Queensland within the pass validity period.
• Over 900 experiences across 25 locations in Queensland are on offer with the Working Holidayer Pass on Backpacker Deals.
• Bookable online via Greyhound Australia or Backpacker Deals, or in-store with select distribution partners. Customers must enter a valid visa number when booking to be eligible for the Working Holidayer Pass.

Greyhound Australia special features for an enjoyable ride to and throughout Queensland:

• Free Wi-Fi to stay connected with family and friends… not to mention to search for new job opportunities and book incredible tourism experiences!
• USB charger on every seat
• Leather reclining seats (with seat belts) and panoramic windows for a relaxing ride through Queensland's beautiful and diverse landscapes.
• Keep your cool with air-conditioning on every coach.
• Onboard restroom for those all-important 'pit stops'.
• Disability access on each coach so that everybody can make the most of the Working Holidayer Pass.
• Ability to book a seat on a coach in real-time with 24/7 access on the Greyhound Australia website – book ahead or on the same day.
• Greyhound Australia services cover 6,000 kilometres within Queensland, providing access to 111 different destinations across the state – the hardest part is choosing where to go first!
• Keeping it flexible with no cost to change dates or destinations and no limit on the number of changes that can be made.

Backpacker Deals (a Travello owned company), is one of Australia's leading online travel websites with a focus on experiences:

• Backpacker Deals brings together the best tours, activities and attractions into one website, allowing young travellers to find the best experiences in Australia.
• Backpacker Deals curates only the best tours and activities, but at affordable backpacker prices.
• There are over 10,000 experiences available on Backpacker Deals across 12 countries, and over 900 of those experiences are in Queensland.
• Backpacker Deals have live customer support based in Australia and pride itself on exceptional customer service.
• Backpacker Deals is owned by Travello, a Queensland based travel-tech company that includes the likes of Flight Centre, News.com.au and JUCY campers as partners.