Beauties and the beach: Indian pageant contestants hit Krabi

PHUKET: The white-sand beaches and stunning limestone karsts of Krabi Province have some competition in the beauty stakes this week following the arrival of 23 contestants from the Miss Indian Princess 2012 pageant.

The beauty queens received a warm welcome when they touched down on Thai Airways flight TG241 at Krabi Airport on Tuesday. The guests seemed impressed when they were greeted in the arrivals lounge by a costumed dance performance to the beat of tom-tom drums.

Also saying hello to the Indian lovelies were Wiyada Sirangkun, the director of the Krabi Tourism Authority of Thailand Office, Krabi Tourism Association President Ittirit Kinglek and other dignitaries in the tourism trade.

Mrs Wiyada said the contestants would spend three days in Krabi. On Tuesday they rested and rehearsed at the luxury Sheraton Krabi Beach Resort.

Yesterday they traveled by boat to Koh Phi Phi to take part in activities and a photo shoot on the beautiful Ao Tonsai Beach.

Today they are rehearsing until 6pm, when they will parade themselves in the national dress of India and Thailand in front of the Black Crab statue in Krabi Town. The public are invited to watch the show.

Mrs Wiyada said the visit would help promote Krabi as a tourism destination.

The selection of Krabi showed that the province reached international safety standards and boasted a stunning natural environment that could attract foreign travelers.

After the visit, pictures of Krabi’s attractions – and those of the contestants – will be put in display in Mumbai, helping to promote the area as a destination for Indian tourists, she said.

— Warisa Temram