When 8 year old Esmé Rowling auditioned to be the face of Australian tourism a little star was born who got the message across.
British Airways held auditions for British kids living in Sydney to be the poster child of their “Visit Soon” campaign.
The video, which has now gone viral, features Homerton born Hackney girl Esmé enjoying sunny Australia and playing in the surf. The ad was screened as a surprise when Esmé’s grandparents settled in to watch a film at their local cinema and left the pair ready to pack to go see little Esmé and the rest of the family.
Watch the video of Esme’s grandparents at the suprise screening of the clip in London
Tugging at the heart strings Esmé’s line “I wish they were here with me” had the desired reaction says her father Joe Rowling – born and bred in Hackney; “The ad had a very good reaction. The grandparents will be coming over in the next few months. Alec and Catherine who were featured in the ad are my wife’s parents. But British Airways have very kindly given my parents flights out too.”
Tourism Australia UK regional general manager Denise von Wald explained their reasoning; “With an estimated 40,000 Brits immigrating to Australia every year, and so many ‘Poms’ now calling Australia home, the Visiting Friends and Family market is huge and one we are very keen to tap into.”
And with as many as seven of Esmé’s friends born in Hackney it seems that Tourism Australia is certainly onto something. British Airways encourages expats with the “Visit Soon” campaign to download postcards inviting their loved ones in Britain to visit them.