Organizers of Miss World have applied to local authorities for holding the 55th final contest of the beauty pageant in Sanya, a seaside city on the southern tip of Hainan Province, south China, next year.

It will be the third straight year for Sanya City to be the host of the event. And the finals of the 54th Miss World is being held in the city on Saturday.

Julia Morley, president of the organization for Miss World said that the organization and the city government had reached preliminary agreement on further cooperation.

Apart from the active attitude of the city government, the hospitality of the local people, nice scenery and fine hotel facilities in Sanya are major factors behind her decision, said Morley.

Mayor Chen Ci hoped Sanya's reputation as an ideal place for holiday makers could be made known to more people of the world via hosting more international events such as Miss World beauty pageant.

Chen predicted the number overnight tourists to the city this year would increase by 20 percent to more than 3.5 million, with the total tourism earnings growing by 26 percent to 3.7 billion yuan (US$446 million).

The boom in tourism has also promoted the development of other industries in Sanya, said Chen, adding that the local revenue of the city would reach a record high of 500 million yuan (US$60.24 million) this year.

(CRI.com December 6, 2004)