An Australian couple are raffling off the Micronesian holiday resort they’ve run for 22 years for just US$49 per ticket.

Doug and Sally Beitz moved to the 42 sq m island of Kosrae with their young family back in 1994 and built the 16-bedroom Kosrae Nautilus Resort from scratch.

‘When Mum and Dad moved to Micronesia they had nothing, they were uneducated, high school drop-outs,’ said their son Adam Beitz. ‘I wouldn’t have the balls to do what they did. But they have given our family a very rich childhood and life. It is kind of their style that they are now passing that on.’

So far around 53,000 people from 50 countries have bought tickets for the raffle, which will be drawn on Tuesday.

Speaking to The Guardian, Doug Beitz said the couple want to offer the same opportunity to another young family rather than ‘selling out to a faceless corporate who may not run the business with family values’.

The Beitzs, who intend to return to Queensland to spend more time with their grandkids, have offered to mentor the winner to ensure the resort – which is debt free and employs 16 full-time members of staff – continues to run effectively. The property will also come furnished and includes a restaurant and swimming pool.

Kosrae is home to 6,600 people and is the second largest island in Micronesia.

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