As part of my visit to the US, today I had the honour of presenting Paul Hogan with Tourism Australia’s inaugural ‘Legend of Australia’ award at his home in Los Angeles.
This award recognises Paul Hogan’s legendary and enduring contribution to promoting Australia as a tourism destination to the world.
Paul Hogan transformed tourism for Australia through his most memorable ‘Come Say G’Day’ ads which first aired in 1984 setting a new benchmark for tourism campaigns at the time. I am sure Australians remember his iconic line “I’ll slip an extra shrimp on the barbie for you”, which is still synonymous with Aussie barbeques today.
Paul Hogan’s Crocodile Dundee movies also boosted inward travel to Australia which were pivotal to the extraordinary jump in visitor numbers in the late 1980s.
I extend my personal thanks and gratitude to Paul Hogan for his exemplary work to promote Australia as an open, friendly and beautiful tourism destination to the world.
