The Ellen DeGeneres Show Comes to Australia

Top-rating The Ellen DeGeneres Show will visit Australia in March in what is expected to deliver a major boost for local tourism.

The visit was announced by Ellen DeGeneres and Swisse Wellness Global Ambassador Nicole Kidman in an episode filmed today that will be watched by a global audience of more than 16 million people. 

The Ellen DeGeneres Show, sponsored by Swisse Wellness for its global product launch, will film numerous segments around Melbourne and Sydney in March that will air in April to around 60 countries around the world.

Qantas has partnered with Swisse Wellness to support the initiative as part of the airline's ongoing commitment to promoting Australia to the world.

During the in-studio announcement in Los Angeles, The Ellen DeGeneres Show audience each received a free return flight on Qantas between the United States and Australia. These trips can be taken any time before the end of the year from New York, Dallas Fort Worth or Los Angeles to Sydney or Melbourne.

CEO of the Qantas Group, Alan Joyce, said helping to bring The Ellen DeGeneres Show to Australia was a fantastic opportunity to market the country to a massive worldwide audience.

"This is a great coup for Australian tourism," said Mr Joyce. "The Ellen DeGeneres Show is one of the top-rating shows in the United States and screens in several key source tourism markets, making it a great platform to profile what Australia has to offer as a holiday destination.

"Ellen is a household name and her unique brand of fun and optimism is a perfect match for the relaxed Australian culture.

"Qantas is thrilled to be able to provide its support to make this happen in partnership with another great Australian business, Swisse Wellness.

"We look forward to working with Swisse Wellness and the tourism sector in Victoria and New South Wales to help maximise worldwide exposure," added Mr Joyce.

The United States is a key source market for visitors to Australia. The Ellen DeGeneres Show also screens in other key source markets including the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Japan.

Today's announcement tops off a week of promoting Australia to the United States. On Wednesday, Qantas, with the support of Swisse Wellness, hosted its annual Spirit of Australia party in Los Angeles, which profiles Australian talent on the world stage.