Belgian beauties bound for Phuket

PHUKET CITY: Twenty Belgian beauties will touch down in Phuket on Monday as part of eight days of activities in the run up to the 2010 Miss Belgium pageant.

Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) South Region 4 office director Bangornrat Shinaprayoon said the activities will include beach tours, photo and video shoots, kayaking in Phang Nga Bay, Thai cooking classes, a visit to Chalong Temple and Thai massage and spa treatments.

The 20 contestants will fly in on an XL Airways charter flight direct from Brussels.

The visit is organized in part by Best Tours and the TAT office in Paris.

The purpose is to promote tourism and increase the number of tourists from Belgium to Thailand and Phuket.

While on the island the beauties will stay at the Cape Panwa Hotel.

“When the pageant is broadcast, many Belgians throughout country will watch. It will be a very good way to promote tourism,” Ms Bangornrat told the Gazette.

“Lots of Europeans think Phuket is still damaged by the tsunami, so this will be a good way to show them that Phuket has regained its charm and is ready to welcome everyone.”

On average, about 35,000 Belgians visit Phuket each year.

Belgium has a population of about 10.5 million.

— Sitthipong Nongkaew