For lack of backpackers: Australia pays people to work in ‘paradise’ | To travel

Queensland offers people an amount of 1500 Australian dollars (more than 950 euros) and a travel check of 250 dollars if they come to work there for at least 12 months. “Cooks, waiters, bar staff, guides, sailors on the Great Barrier Reef — there are all kinds of great jobs up for grabs,” the state government jubilated in a statement.

Domestic tourism

In many tourist places on Australia’s east coast, “staff wanted” signs are now a common sight. Foreign employees are difficult to find, but domestic tourists continue to pour in despite the corona crisis. In Port Douglas, hotels were 90 percent full during a recent school holiday, reports Australian 9News.

Before the pandemic, one in six jobs in Queensland was related to tourism. Regional Prime Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk said on Twitter that companies have complained to her about “critical staff shortages.” Her state government is now allocating a total of $ 7.5 million to attract employees. According to the politician, more than 2300 interested people have already registered.

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