THEY won’t say how much it is costing taxpayers, but the South Australian Tourism Commission’s jumped at the chance to showcase Kangaroo Island in Sports Illustrated’s 2019 Swimsuit Issue.
The SATC is hoping exposure in the annual edition, which has a global readership of 60 million, will increase international visitor numbers to KI and tap into the lucrative North American market.
Asked by The Advertiser if the SATC had paid for the partnership, a spokesman said all details were “commercial in confidence”.
“As you can appreciate other jurisdictions would love this type of exposure and so to release these details would harm future negotiating positions for both parties,” he said.
“However I can say that the SATC has assessed this opportunity thoroughly according to our usual required ROI (return on investment) metrics and given the massive exposure offered by Sports Illustrated we are confident that this partnership provides exceptional value for money for the State.”
The KI photoshoot, which will wrap on Saturday, stars model Olivia Culpo.
The 26-year-old American, who won the Miss Universe competition in 2012, posed on Snellings Beach in a bikini, with a live snake wrapped around her. The sexy images captured by photographer Josie Clough were shared on social media.
“I dedicate this to all the snakes,” Ms Culpo wrote on Instagram where she has more than 3.4 million followers.
Ms Culpo is one of six US-born international models featuring in the photoshoot locations fro which will also include Stokes Bay, Emu Bay, Pennington Bay, King George Beach and Remarkable Rocks.
The other models are Camille Kostek, who appeared in Amy Schumer’s 2017 comedy film I Feel Pretty, Tara Lynn, Hailey Clauson, Myla Dabesio and Samantha Hoopes.
The former Miss Universe is an Instagram star, with more than 3.4 million followers.Picture: Getty Images
The latter has shown off her “wombat workout” in two videos posted to Sports Illustrated Swimsuit’s Instagram account followed by 1.8 million people. In them she cradles a large wombat on its back while doing squats and lunges at Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park.
The videos, and images of Ms Culpo, have also been shared on its Facebook page which has close to 6 million followers.
Olivia Culpo in the 2012 Miss Universe pageant.Picture: AP
It’s not the first time KI has featured in the Swimsuit Issue. Australian model Elle MacPherson was photographed on Seal Bay for the 1985 edition.
The 2019 Swimsuit Issue featuring KI will go on sale in May.
