Hayden to bat for Queensland''s oil-spill affected Moreton Bay
Brisbane (Australia), Mar. 21 : Former Australian Test opener Matthew Hayden has kickstarted a campaign to restore Queensland''s image after the oil spill that disfigured Moreton Island.
Hayden will promote Tourism Queensland's Donate a Day to the Bay campaign after news of the devastating oil spill prompted people around the world to cancel holidays.
"We''ve seen massive cancellations, and by actually getting engaged in Moreton Island again, and Moreton Bay, I think that''s the best way Queenslanders can move forward," the Courier Mail quoted Hayden, as saying.
"The impact that it has, just purely from a perception point of view, is enormous. How we can help is get on the bay and enjoy it," he added.
Brisbane Marketing CEO John Aitken said unless the campaign was successful, the loss in tourism earnings could be in millions.
"The vast majority of the bay is absolutely open for business, but many tour operators are not getting the bookings they were expecting," Aitken said.
Spill workers are still plugging away at Kawana Beach as ads hit the airwaves reassuring tourists all patrolled beaches would be open by today.
Meanwhile, the navy said it might have found 23 of the 31 ammonium nitrate containers lost from the cargo ship. (ANI)