MUMBAI: US broadcaster NBC, Donald Trump and Miss Universe president Paula Shugart have announced that Bangkok will host the 2005 Miss Universe.

The pageant takes place on 30 May.

This year's pageant, hosted by Access Hollywood's Billy Bush and Nancy O'Dell, mark the third consecutive year that NBC has broadcast the event in the US. Shugart said, "We felt during our first trip to Bangkok last June that we had found our home for the next Miss Universe competition. The officials we met with in Thailand showed great enthusiasm at the prospect of hosting the three-week event."

Thailand's Minister of sport and tourism Sontaya Kunplome said, "We know that bringing the Pageant to Thailand is one of the many steps in re-building our economy (in the aftermath of the horrific tsunami disaster) and boosting our tourism. There is no better time, for our people and our economy, for us to bring this worldwide event to our country."