PM praises pagent's success

The Miss Universe 2005 pageant was just what Thailand needed to bring back tourists after the tsunami disaster last last year, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said yesterday.

Even though Thailand paid 265 million baht for the rights to host the pageant, he said, the country got more than its money's worth in publicity.

Mr Thaksin said he believed the event will bring a surge in foreign tourist arrivals which have dropped since the Dec 26 tsunami.

"They produced a good presentation of Thailand. The photos of several provinces were broadcast to a worldwide audience. It's worth it," he said.

The prime minister said the event organiser also allowed Thai touches into the event, ranging from stage props to cultural performances.

The programme was broadcast to more than 125 countries, reaching hundreds of millions of viewers.

He also complimented the Tourism Authority of Thailand which tried its best to integrate Thai themes into the event.

The prime minister also praised newly-crowned Miss Universe, Natalie Glebova of Canada, who captured the hearts of the Thai audience by performing a wai.

"She could be a goodwill ambassador for Thailand," Mr Thaksin said.

The beauty pageant, which was broadcast locally at 8am, left busy Government House quiet yesterday morning. Mr Thaksin delayed a weekly cabinet meeting by several hours.

The cabinet ministers did not begin to show up until 10am, with Public Health Minister Suchai Charoenrattanakul the first to arrive. Mr Thaksin came at 10.30am.
Bangko Post 1 June 2005 www.bangkokpost.com
Yuwadee Tunyasiri