Tourism Australia to host Oprah Winfrey show

Attracting the show is major coup by Tourism Australia, as it will showcase the country to a worldwide audience in 145 countries as well as 40 million viewers in the US alone. 

Tourism Australia Chairman, Geoff Dixon announced the news today, saying that Australia will be profiled on at least two full episodes plus the season premiere, which went to air overnight, as part of the program’s 25th season.

“The fact that Ms Winfrey has chosen to share her first visit to Australia with her television audience is a huge backing for our country and provides an amazing opportunity for Australian tourism,” Mr Dixon said.

“We can showcase why There’s nothing like Australia to audiences around the world and encourage them to come and explore our country for themselves whether it’s their first time or their fifth time,” he said.
 
To visit Australia for tourism purposes all international travellers, unless they have an Australian or New Zealand passport, must have an ETA Visa. The ETA Visa, or Electronic Travel Authority, can be applied for online and it approved almost instantly.

Audience members attending the show’s farewell season premiere episode were given one of the biggest surprises in Oprah show history when Ms Winfrey announced that they were all going to Australia. Ms Winfrey, her correspondents, and 300 of Oprah’s most loyal viewers travel on an eight-day, seven-night trip to Australia, to film at least two episodes of the program during December.

The Oprah show cameras will capture their journeys around Australia as well as bring everyone together at the steps of the Sydney Opera House – or as it will be known that week the “Oprah House” - for a show featuring Australian talent and special guests.

Episodes will air first in the US in early 2011 and then roll out to other global markets.  

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The Australian Visa Bureau is an independent consulting company specialising in helping people lodge their application with the Australian Embassy London.