Miss Peru, Maria Julia Mantilla-Garcia, 20, was crowned Miss World 2004 in scenic beach city Sanya, in China's southernmost Hainan Province on Saturday night.

Claudia Julissa Cruz Rodriguez, Miss Dominican Republic, and Nancy Randoll, Miss USA, gained the second and third places at the final contest.

Girls from 107 nations and regions participated in the pageant, held for the second consecutive year in Sanya. The pageant attracted roughly 2.5 billion viewers around the world, said Julia Morley, president of the organization that sponsors the event.

The 55th pageant will also be in the city next year, she said.

The active support of the city government, the hospitality of the local people, the nice scenery and fine hotel facilities in Sanya are major factors behind the organization's decision, Morley said.

Mayor Chen Chi of the city 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 of 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.   

The Miss World Competition was launched in 1951 in London as part of the New Year celebrations in Britain. Currently, the theme of the event is to promote world peace, build up an image of outstanding women and help children suffering from hunger.

(Xinhua News Agency December 5, 2004)