Nan Province: Next UNESCO Cultural World Heritage site?
Culture Minister Sermsak Pongpanich announced the Cabinet’s approval of the Culture Ministry’s proposal to nominate Nan as a UNESCO Cultural World Heritage Site. This exciting development comprises two key subprojects geared towards enhancing public awareness, revealed the minister yesterday, March 25.
Nan Province’s inclusion in the nomination list stems from its vibrant cultural heritage, boasting meticulously preserved pre-historic archaeological findings, a tapestry of ethnic diversity, and profound local wisdom, according to Sermsak.
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin gave the green light to the nomination plan during the government’s mobile meeting in Phayao last week, signifying a crucial step towards Nan’s global recognition.
With an estimated budget of at least 7 million baht, the comprehensive plan aims to illuminate Nan’s historical and archaeological significance while fostering public engagement in the nomination process. The initial phase, utilising approximately 2 million baht, will involve awareness campaigns targeting relevant sectors, communities, and individuals through a series of meetings and events.
Additionally, the creation of an e-book chronicling Nan’s cultural heritage is on the agenda.
The latter segment, budgeted at a minimum of 5 million baht, will focus on conducting academic assessments of the province’s archaeological sites. This entails gathering pertinent data and evaluating their international significance to bolster Nan’s candidacy for UNESCO recognition.
According to Sermsak, the project is slated to start later this year. To synergise with the UNESCO nomination of Luang Prabang in Laos, PM Srettha proposed promoting Nan to establish a cultural tourism nexus between the two neighbouring cities, reported Bangkok Post.
Sermsak highlighted the dual-city World Heritage nomination as a strategic manoeuvre aligning with Thailand’s soft power policies, poised to invigorate cultural tourism across the nation.
In related news, a proposal for the inclusion of four historic town clusters located in the southern province of Songkhla in UNESCO’s tentative list of potential new world heritage sites has been forwarded by Thailand’s national committee at the World Heritage Convention. The recommendation was made on March 6, with the old town clusters representing communities and sites linked to Songkhla Lake.
