20,000 people eager to become 'Best Job in the World' winner's best mates

Melbourne, Sept 23 (ANI): Tourism Queensland has received more than 20,000 applications following its announcement that one person and three of their friends can become caretaker Ben Southall's best mates in an all-expenses-paid, seven-week holiday to the Whitsundays.

The tourism officials have received applications from 142 countries, including Venezuela, Bosnia, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Trinidad and Australia.

"There are only two weeks left of the competition, and I expect the number of entries will continue to rise as people decide which of their three mates they'd like to bring to Queensland," News.com.au quoted Tourism Minister Peter Lawlor as saying.

"Ben's helpers will have the opportunity to enjoy Queensland experiences from Brisbane in the south to Port Douglas in the north and a variety of the islands in between," he added.

The selected candidates will report back to Ben through photos, videos and a blog.

Entries are open until October 7 via www.islandreefjob.com. (ANI)