The announcement came just days after Baywatch producers were heckled by 2,000 rowdy opponents of a proposed move to the Sydney beachside suburb Avalon, its first-choice location.

The show filmed several episodes in Avalon last year and a few months ago began proposing a permanent move Down Under, to freshen up the show and give it a new backdrop.

Queensland Tourism Minister Bob Gibbs said the deal was finalised in a meeting with Baywatch executive producer Greg Bonnan.

A contract cementing the deal will be signed next week with production scheduled to start in June.

Gibbs said it would be worth some 20 million Australian dollars (US $12.6 million) to the Gold Coast economy plus massive world-wide exposure for its tourism industry.

``Baywatch is Gold Coast-bound after veryproductive talks with Bonnan, who is very excited about the show coming to Queensland,'' Gibbs said.

He said the government will offer a package of incentives to the Baywatch producers but a spokesman said details remained commercial in-confidence because the deal was yet to be signed.

Hundreds of jobs will be available for Australian actors, writers, filmmakers and technicians, Gibbs said.

There will be only 14 foreign cast and crew out of a total of 200 people working on the programme.

Dubbed the world's most popular show by its American producers, Baywatch stars actor and singer David Hasselhof and is responsible for nurturing the careers of actresses such as Pamela Anderson and Yasmin Bleeth.

It is screened in 144 countries in 32 languages.