G Adventures founder Bruce Poon Tip has spent the majority of his trip to Australia justifying comments about his alleged obsession with Aussie all-rounder Hugh Jackman.

Mr Poon Tip told travellers and trade at last night’s Future of Tourism event in Sydney that Australia is in need of another Paul Hogan. Enter: the singing, fighting, romantic Wolverine.

Hugh Jackman’s “global appeal and diversity” is what Australia needs to tackle its identity crisis much the same way that Paul Hogan’s “throw another shrimp on barbie” did in the 80s and 90s, Mr Poon Tip told e-Travel Blackboard.

“Australia has good tourism problems: there are too many tourism assets,” he said.

“But Australia is trying to be everything for everyone.”

Just weeks into his company launching tours into Australia, the G Adventures founder expressed doubts that Australians will be interested in them.

“I don’t think we can sell Australia to Australians,” he admitted to e-Travel Blackboard.

However, these doubts may be unfounded, Mr Poon Tip saying he had similar concerns upon the launch of G Adventures’ North America tours which proved so popular that the company had to add extra departures.

“We’re about creating innovative experiences and that model has worked for us in North America,” he said.

According to Mr Poon Tip, 20 percent of North American tours are sold out of North America and it is this popularity that spurred the company to move into the Australian market.

The company’s delayed entry into Australia was based on G Adventures’ determination to deliver on their brand promise, something that could not be done without significant investment, Mr Poon Tip said.

“Australia is saturated by coach tours that go up and down the coast,” he said, and given the company’s uncompromising commitment to sustainability and ethical travel, G Adventures was not going to head Down Under without a different, experiential product.

A recent report has revealed Australian domestic tourism is on a path to steady growth.

And for those wondering, it’s the Wolverine incarnation of Hugh Jackman that Mr Poon Tip likes.