What better way for a country to leave the tsunami horrors behind and boost the economy than by hosting Miss Universe 2005! Thailand has boarded the Miss Universe 2005 bandwagon, and is hell-bent on getting the tourist money flowing back again. Organisers of Miss Universe 2005 (location: Bangkok; date: May 31, 2005) will get tax benefits and state assistance to out the event together.

One of the most-watched TV pageants, hosting the Miss Universe 2005 will help the country enhance its image and promote tourism, believe authorities. Government will provide tight security to the organizers.

One of the co-organizers of Miss Universe 2005, DTC Group has sought tax incentives, security and work permit for staff from New York. Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Suwat Liptapanlop recently said that the event, with over one billion audiences in 171 countries worldwide, would help promote Thai tourism. Bangkok authorities are pumping in 260 million baht through the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the main sponsor for the event. The government believes it is worth the money, since to promote tourism through other means would cost as much as 3 billion baht to create the same impact. According to the chairman of Matching Studio Plc, one of the local organizers under DTC, the event will cost at least 650 million baht to organize. Miss Universe 2005 is expected to generate revenues of about two billion baht for the Thai tourism industry.

The Thai government has also asked 19 state agencies to be associated with Miss Universe 2005.

Employees of Miss Universe Inc will travel to Bangkok on the direct New York-Bangkok route, to be opened in May by Thai Airways International.

Sponsorships for Miss Universe 2005 will come in three packages; platinum package (150 million baht) gold package (80 million baht) and silver (40 million baht).

The local sponsors are also planning to ask the Thai Commerce Ministry to be one of the sponsors of Miss Universe 2005.

BY A CORRESPODENT.