Thailand is drawing up plans to market and promote the Kingdom for the Miss Universe Pageant, which the Thai government has unofficially said it will host in June 2005. According to the TAT (Tourism Authority of Thailand), the New York-based Miss Universe Organization, which organizes the annual pageant, recently gave their informal approval for Thailand to host next year's event.
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra announced contest bid results to the Cabinet on August 10, but will wait until August 26 to make an official announcement. Thailand outbid China and Chile. The Thai government will pay US$6.5 million (Bt270 million) to the Miss Universe Organization, lower than China's offer of $7 million but more than Chile's $6 million.
Thailand won because the Thai government was the one who proposed the bid, unlike in China and Chile where the bids were proposed by private companies. The Thai proposal stood out as it was represented by a government tourism body, said TAT governor Juthamas Siriwan.
The beauty pageant organizer wanted to give Thailand a chance, she said. Next year's event marks the second time that Thailand will host the international show. The first was in 1992. The Thai authority has not yet decided where the contest will take place, but it expects 10,000 visitors to descend on Bangkok for the 2005 Miss Universe contest.
Besides engaging all of its 17 overseas tourist offices to step up the marketing of Thailand as a tourist destination, the TAT is arranging a travel show for the days leading up to the 2005 Miss Universe contest. Thailand also plans to renovate and decorate Rajdamneon Avenue and surrounding places in Bangkok, where the 2005 Miss Universe pageant will hold parades.
The TAT would not say how much all this would cost, but only said that having the Miss Universe contest in Thailand is a very important strategy to lure more tourists, with the event being related to the TAT's 2005 theme: "Happiness on Earth."
Before the 2005 Miss Universe beauty contest, the TAT plans to hold a Thailand and Indo-China travel mart, to energize domestic and intra-regional tourism. The TAT also plans to create a "Beauty Caravan" with the pageants to the northern provinces of Chiang Mai and Sukhothai.
In the 52-year history of the Miss Universe contest, two Thais have been crowned Miss Universe: Miss Apasra Hongsakul in 1965 and Miss Pornthip Nakhirankanok in 1988.
The reigning Miss Universe, Australian Jennifer Hawkins, came to Thailand during the International Aids Conference in July 2004. Her visit was seen as an informal nod from the Miss Universe organization to Thailand for the hosting of the 2005 contest.
