CHUMPHON - Authorities hope having beauty pageants use the southern provinces to shoot video of contestants in swimsuits will give tourism a boost.
Already marketed as top destination by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Chumphon will see its profile raised by the Miss Grand Thailand 2015 competition, said Apichai Aranyik, director of the TAT's office here.
Pageant organisers are shooting swimsuit images for 50 hopefuls through Wednesday. The video will be nationally broadcast in the final round on May 12.
Mr Aphchai said tourist attractions in Chumphon will be promoted through the contest with hopes of attracting more tourists to the province.
Chumphon is listed in the "12 Destinations ... You Can't Say No" campaign to promote provinces less visible on the radar of local and foreign tourists. The tourism agency tries to lure tourists to Chumphon by calling it the province with long beaches.
Other provinces in the campaign are Chanthaburi, Trat, Lampang, Nan, Buri Ram, Loei, Trang, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Samut Songkram, Ratchaburi and Phetchabun.