China was authorized to hold the Miss Travel contest annually from 2006 to 2010, Li Zhe, director of China's organizing committee for the Miss Travel contest said here Thursday.

"From this year, China can hold one Miss Travel contest each year for five years," Li said after receiving the letter of authorization from the international organization of Miss Travel.

This is the first time the contest to be held out of Malaysia, its birthplace, Huang Hanrong, initiator of the contest said.

The contest was first launched in 1993 and 10 contests have been held by now.

"The contest is aimed to publicize culture of travel and promote international tourism," Huang said.

China is the most potential travel market, Huang said, expressing his hope that the contest can creat more opportunity of exchanges and cooperation on tourism for the countries participating.

Contestants from 40 countries and regions are expected to join in the 2006 Miss Travel contest held in Zhangjiajie, a famous scenic resort in central China's Hunan province.

(Source: Xin Hua News)