Australian cricket legend and proud Queenslander Matt Hayden will front a new tourism marketing campaign to encourage more Indian visitors to travel to the state.

Minister for Tourism Jann Stuckey said the ‘Go Beyond’ campaign would showcase Queensland’s rainforests, beaches and the Great Barrier Reef, which are all popular with Indian tourists.

“India is a growing market for Queensland with the number of Indian visitors to Queensland rising by 3 per cent to 31,000 in 2012,” Ms Stuckey said.  “The campaign is a joint venture between Tourism and Events Queensland and Singapore Airlines, and its partner Virgin Australia, with special flight packages to be offered between Indian ports and Brisbane.

“It is also designed to showcase how easy it is to ‘go beyond’ Australian international gateways to reach Queensland destinations such as the Gold Coast, Whitsundays, Outback and Tropical North Queensland.

"Matt Hayden has a huge fan base in India and is passionate about promoting Queensland as a world-class tourism and culinary destination so it’s great to have him on board.”

Mr Hayden said he was delighted to be able to promote his favourite destination - Queensland.  He visited Port Douglas a couple of years ago on a previous whirlwind Tourism Queensland tour and last year was a great tourist season.  So let's hope his passion and charisma work their magic again on this tour of duty.

“As my home state, I have had the opportunity to travel the length and breadth of Queensland sampling the delights of holiday destinations and the wonderful food we have that is unique to Queensland,” Mr Hayden said.

“Singapore Airlines and Virgin Australia will allow more Indians to visit places such as Hamilton Island and Hayman Island in the Whitsundays, Cairns in Tropical North Queensland and of course the world famous Gold Coast.”

Ms Stuckey said international campaigns were an important support base for Queensland’s tourism industry, which employs more than 120,000 people across the state.