AUSTRALIAN Capital Tourism is inviting 500 Australians to visit Canberra and see the city first-hand and to judge the capital for themselves.

It’s the driving initiative of Tourism’s new million-dollar, social-media, destination-marketing campaign, it’s calling “The Human Brochure”.

The campaign, in the lead up to next year’s Centenary celebrations, will allow people from around Australia to engage in a meaningful way with Canberra, and build a community of advocates via social media and real-life experiences.

“There is no doubt that the best form of advertising is word of mouth. By creating an army of ambassadors to sell Canberra to their family and friends, the ‘Human Brochure’ will be a great investment in helping to build our tourist numbers and grow our economy,” says Tourism minister Andrew Barr.

“Those selected may bring a friend or their family to share the experience. Their accommodation, meals and activities will be paid for. In return, participants will be asked to share their experiences with family, friends, networks and peers using their own words, pictures and videos on social media.”

The weekends will take place on October 26-28 and February 15-17 . Applications can be made at www.500humans.com.au or on Facebook. Applications close on September 21.