Twenty thousand apply to be 'Best Job' Ben's buddy

More than 20,000 people from across the globe want to buddy up with Queensland island caretaker Ben Southall for the holiday of a lifetime.

A call went out last month to invite one person and three of their friends to become Ben's best mates in an all-expenses-paid, seven-week holiday to the Whitsundays.

Since then, entrants have come 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," Tourism Minister Peter Lawlor said in a statement.

"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."

They will be asked to report back to Ben through photos, videos and a blog to help sell the state to the world.

Entries are open until October 7 via www.islandreefjob.com

Ben Southall beat more than 34,000 applicants to land the coveted $150,000, six-month tenure as caretaker of Hamilton Island in a marketing coup for Tourism Queensland.

AAP