HEART-THROB actor Chris Hemsworth is set to follow in the footsteps of Paul Hogan and Lara Bingle by becoming Australia’s next tourism ambassador.

The Aussie hunk who is currently promoting his new film In the Heart of the Sea, will front Tourism Australia’s new $45 million coastal and aquatic experiences campaign.

Hemsworth will attend the campaign launch in New York City on Australia Day eve and perform other duties to promote the country he still calls home.

雷神，又名锤子哥。简介在此

set to do：ready to do

例句：I'm all set to go. Are you ready? We are set to leave at a moment's notice.

follow in the footsteps：to do something that was done before

例句： The company is following in the footsteps of other great research organizations.

hunk：a large, strong, sexually attractive man.

例子：a Hollywood hunk

Chris Hemsworth’s new tourism role dovetails nicely with his latest star turn in the blockbuster In the Heart of the Sea. Picture: Jonathan Prime/Warner Bros via APSource:AP

“It wasn’t a hard decision to move back to Australia because this part of the world is such a special place,” said Hemsworth of his return to Byron Bay last year.

“This is the place I want my kids to grow up — that’s the world I want them to be part of.”

The emphasis on coastal and aquatic experiences particularly resonated with Hemsworth, a keen surfer.

“Being in the water or near to it, is a way of life for us,” Hemsworth said.

“In Australia you’re surrounded by the most incredible natural beauty. I’m really looking forward to launching this campaign in New York and sharing with the rest of the world just how amazing this country really is.”

dovetail：join together 吻合

plan to enable parents to dovetail their career and family commitments

blockbuster ：a thing of great power or size, in particular a film, book, or other product that is a great commercial success.巨型炸弹，一鸣惊人者，大片

a blockbuster film

resonate：produce or be filled with a deep, full, reverberating sound.共鸣，回荡

the sound of the siren resonated across the harbour

Not a hard sell. From Tourism Australia's Coastal and Aquatic experiences campaign — snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef. Picture: Tourism AustraliaSource:Supplied

Tourism Australia Managing Director John O’Sullivan said Hemsworth would provide an authentic Australian voice to help tell the country’s story globally.

“Chris truly embodies the Australian way of life and his love of his home country, with all its natural beauty, makes him an ideal ambassador,” Mr O’Sullivan said.

“From learning how to surf on Phillip Island, fishing with his brothers in the Northern Territory and family beach holidays, Chris has grown up in Australia in and around water and his own personal experiences bring a truly authentic and influential Australian voice to our campaign.”

snorkell：swim using a snorkel.浮潜

the sea is incredibly clear—ideal for snorkelling

embody：be an expression of or give a tangible or visible form to (an idea, quality, or feeling).具象化，形象化

a national team that embodies competitive spirit and skill

authentic：conforming to fact and therefore worthy of belief 可信的

an authentic account by an eyewitness

Mr O’Sullivan refused to say how much the actor was being paid for his role in the campaign, which cost $5 million to make.

Another $40 million of taxpayer funds is being spent promoting the campaign overseas in “key markets” starting with the US.

Not since comedian Paul Hogan “threw another shrimp on the barbie” in 1984 has Tourism Australia made such a targeted push into the American market.

Familiar faces. Chris Hemsworth and family out and about in Byron Bay. Picture: Glenn Reeve/News Corp AustraliaSource:News Corp Australia

The favourable exchange rate and an increased number of direct flights is already making the trip across the Pacific more appealing to US travellers.

In the year to November, almost 600,000 journeyed down under, an increase of 8.8 per cent on the previous 12 months.

Tourism Australia’s Chief Marketing Officer, Lisa Ronson said the deal with Hemsworth was “just the start of a longer term partnership.

“We look forward to further developing our plans after the launch in New York,” said Ms Ronson.

key market 主要市场

“threw another shrimp on the barbie”是之前的形象大使Paul Hogan在投放美国的广告里说的话，为了迎合美国文化，把澳洲的prawn说成了shrimp。澳洲一般不把虾叫做shrimp。

favourable exchange rate诱人的汇率

appealing 吸引人的

journey也可以作为动词，旅行，出游

雷神自拍的Selfie with my mate!系列

大蜘蛛、蟒蛇才是澳洲的特色耶！

和袋鼠亲密接触。。。

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