Bangkok, Feb 09: Thailand's caretaker Cabinet today approved government funding for the 2005 Miss Universe beauty pageant to be hosted in the country, an official said.
The Cabinet gave the go-ahead for the tourism authority of Thailand to spend the 260 million baht (6.75 million dollars) on the gala event at its weekly meeting, government spokesman Jakrapob Penkair said.
It was one of the caretaker Cabinet's first decisions since Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's Party claimed victory in a weekend election.
Jakrapob told a press conference the televised event would attract an international audience of about a billion people from more than 50 countries.
"Thailand expects to gain 2.0 billion baht in revenue from tourism during the pageant," he added.
Thai women have twice won the competition, in 1965 and 1988, and the kingdom hosted the contest in 1992.
Bureau Report
