UNESCO
- Thailand News
Udon Thani park receives UNESCO World Heritage status
Phu Phra Bat Historical Park in Udon Thani is poised to be recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the cultural category today, as announced by Natural Resources and Environment Minister Phatcharavat Wongsuwan. Phatcharavat, who leads the national committee for world heritage protection, stated that the Thai delegation attending the 46th Session of the World Heritage Committee in India…
- Thailand News
Thailand seeks UNESCO recognition for Tom Yum Kung & Kebaya dress
The Government of Thailand is pushing to have Tom Yum Kung soup and the Kebaya dress registered as intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO. The Ministry of Culture is accelerating plans to promote Thailand’s soft power on the international stage. The Ministry of Culture is promoting two of Thailand’s cultural heritages this year: Tom Yum Kung soup and the Kebaya dress.…
- Thailand News
Government pushes for UNESCO status for Nan to boost tourism
The Government of Thailand announced plans to promote cultural tourism between Nan in northern Thailand and Luang Prabang, the historic capital of Laos, with the ultimate aim of nominating Nan as a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) World Heritage site. Government spokesperson Chai Watcharonke revealed that the Cabinet had approved the Culture Ministry’s proposal in March, highlighting…
- Thailand News
Taste triumph: Macao’s gastronomic diplomacy takes Phuket by storm
Macao’s delectable journey towards gastronomic greatness hit new heights as the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) graced the inaugural UNESCO Creative Cities of Gastronomy Annual Conference in Phuket. From May 10 to 12, the conference acted as a culinary cauldron, bringing together gastronomic geniuses from across the globe under one roof. Hosted by Phuket, the conference served up a three-day…
- Thailand News
Thai Cabinet approves UNESCO Heritage Status for Songkhla
Thailand has set its sights on securing UNESCO World Heritage status for four ancient towns nestled within the southern province of Songkhla. The Cabinet’s resounding approval on April 9, marks a pivotal step towards immortalising the rich cultural tapestry of this southern gem. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has been tasked with crafting a proposal that was scheduled…
- Thailand News
UNESCO-recognised Songkran festival goes global
Thailand’s Songkran Thai New Year celebrations have gathered international attention, with 35 foreign embassies collaborating with the Thai government to promote the festival worldwide. This initiative comes after UNESCO recognised the festival as an intangible cultural heritage in December of last year. Culture Minister Sermsak Pongpanich revealed that the embassies have produced a series of short videos wishing Thais a…
- Thailand News
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,…
- Thailand News
Thailand proposes four Songkhla town clusters for UNESCO list
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 on the World Heritage Convention. The recommendation was made yesterday, with the old town clusters representing communities and sites linked to Songkhla Lake. The committee meeting,…
- Thailand News
World Songkran Festival to last from April 1 to 21
In an exciting announcement, government spokesman Chai Wacharonke yesterday revealed that plans were underway to organise World Songkran Festival activities nationwide. This decision comes hot on the heels of UNESCO’s recent recognition of the Songkran festival as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity. “The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has formally acknowledged the significance of the Songkran…
- Thailand News
UNESCO recognises Songkran festival as Intangible Cultural Heritage
Thursday witnessed a series of events commemorating the Songkran Festival’s recent recognition as an Intangible Cultural Heritage by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). The official declaration was made yesterday during UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee meeting for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage held in Botswana. The Culture Ministry’s application for the inclusion of the Songkran Festival was approved by…
- Thailand News
Thailand considering month-long Songkran Festival to boost economy
The National Soft Power Development Committee in Thailand is proposing to extend the Songkran Festival for the entire month of April. Traditionally held from April 13-15, the water-splashing festivities are a cornerstone of the celebration. The committee hopes that by extending the festival and incorporating a range of other cultural events across the country, the festival could be promoted to…
- Guides
Thailands UNESCO world heritage sites
Thailand is recognised worldwide for its many cultural and landscape features, including its unique landscapes, immaculate beaches, energetic street life, and exquisite Buddhist temples with a long history. But Thailand has a few UNESCO World Heritage Sites, each with its own distinct story of time. It’s not simply the glittering skyline of Bangkok or the sunsets over the Andaman Sea…
- Tourism News
Climbing restrictions loom for tourists at sacred Khao Klang Nok
Phetchabun’s Si Thep Historical Park may soon restrict tourists from climbing Khao Klang Nok, a ruin considered sacred by locals. The move comes in response to the increasing number of visitors following the park’s declaration as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO on September 19. Locals expressed concerns about the influx of tourists, many of whom have been climbing Khao…
- Thailand News
UNESCO’s recognition triggers visitor surge at Si Thep Historical Park in northern Thailand
Si Thep Historical Park in Phetchabun experienced an unexpected surge in visitor numbers over the weekend, following its announcement as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO on September 19. The ensuing tourism influx prompted local agencies to call on the government for increased accommodation and facilities for the increasing number of tourists. Sittichai Poodee, the director of Si Thep Historical…
- Thailand News
UNESCO nomination bid at risk as contractors flout Thai temple preservation orders
Deep in the heartland of Nakhon Si Thammarat, the tranquil expanses of Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan are churning with concern as contractors persist with the dismantling of age-old cannons at the temple, regardless of instructions from the Fine Arts Department (FAD) to halt until an investigation is carried out. The fabled temple is on its path to being nominated as…
- Things To Do
10 amazing things to do in Ayutthaya 2024
Have you ever heard of the ancient city of Ayutthaya? Endorsed as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the second capital of the Siamese Kingdom was once considered the largest and most cosmopolitan urban area in the world. The colonial-era European chronicles even mentioned it as the Venice of the East! Time travel and bask in the rich cultural…
- Lifestyle
UNESCO recognises performance style from South Thailand
UNESCO has recognised a unique performance style from South Thailand. The organisation’s Facebook page posted a cover photo of a Nora performer, with the caption, “We are #LivingHeritage.” Nora has deep cultural and social significance for southern Thais. It is known for its unique style of singing and dancing. Nora performers are known for their signature long, curled metal fingernail…
- Expats
‘Water Festival 2023’ promotes traditional Thai culture
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) announced plans to promote traditional Thai culture with a series of events for Songkran under the “Water Festival 2023” banner in four regions between April 13 and 16. The event is a collaborative effort between TAT, Thai Beverage Public Co Ltd (ThaiBev), and several other partners, including the Culture Ministry, the Royal Thai Navy,…
- World News
10,000 Angkor Wat residents facing mass eviction
The UNESCO world heritage site of Angkor Wat, the largest religious complex in the world, is facing a humanitarian crisis. About 10,000 people who live in and around the site have been told that they must move before the new year. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen describes it as “voluntary relocations,” but residents being pushed out of their homes and…
- Technology News
Failed 14 million baht temple lighting system may quash UNESCO nomination
A failed 14 million baht lighting system isn’t helping southern Thailand’s temple of Phra Mahathat Woramahavihan’s bid to become a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. The lighting system was installed around the main stupa of Phra Borommathat Chedi in 2014, but those responsible for the project have largely left it in disarray. The lighting is now in need of repairs due…
- Tourism News
Andaman Sea coast set for UNESCO recognition
Three conservation areas on the Andaman Sea are to be nominated for United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) recognition by Natural Resources and Environment Minister Varawut Silpa-archa. As the islands prepare to welcome tourists on October 15, Varawut was inspecting a maintenance and waste collection project on Koh Miang of the Similan Islands in Phangnga province. Reports in…
- Pattaya News
Pattaya, the land of sex, drugs, and film production?
Pattaya is known for a lot of things- drug busts, violent fights, and other various scandals. But one Thai government agency is hoping to make Pattaya a “City of Film” in the next 5 years, between 2022 and 2027. Can Thailand’s Sin City become a movie-making destination? Thailand’s Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration is promoting the tourist hotspot as…
- Thailand News
Plan to land Thai cannabis on UNESCO intangible cultural heritage list
[Intangible: adj. Incapable of being perceived by the senses.] While some would call the effects of marijuana anything but intangible, the Ministry of Culture is planning to get Thai ganja on the UNESCO “intangible cultural heritage” list. The ministry claims that Thai cannabis has been used in all regions of the country as a herb, while locally grown weed has…
- Thailand News
Thailand’s nora folk dance recognised by UNESCO as “Intangible Cultural Heritage”
Southern Thailand’s traditional, and ultra-elaborate, folk dance “nora” was recognised by UNESCO as a piece of Thailand’s “Intangible Cultural Heritage.” The Nora performance, which can last up to three days and three nights, will join the elite ranks of Thailand’s other two recognised on the heritage list, the Thai massage and masked Khon dance The announcement was made during the…
- Thailand News
Tom yum goong to be nominated for UNESCO cultural heritage list
Thailand’s famous hot and spicy shrimp soup, or tom yum goong, as it’s better known locally, is being nominated for inclusion on UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage list. Thai PBS World reports that the government has approved a proposal from the Culture Ministry that the renowned dish be put forward for inclusion. UNESCO established its Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage with…
- Central Thailand News
World Heritage committee to consider delaying Kaeng Krachan national park application
The UNESCO World Heritage Centre says it recognises the plight being faced by indigenous Karen people in Kaeng Krachan national park, in central Thailand. PM Prayut Chan-o-cha says the Karen villagers are not permitted to live in the park, after complaints from environmental rights groups concerned about the effect on the surrounding forest land. The Karen people have submitted a…
- World News
Thailand welcomes UN to inspect ethnic Karen village in Kaeng Krachan national park
Thailand’s government says it is welcoming the UN to inspect the ethnic Karen village in Kaeng Krachan national park, Phetchaburi, after ongoing allegations of human rights violations allegedly committed by Thai officials. The villagers were evacuated from their original village of Ban Bang Kloy or Jai Paendin in the national park after locals complained that the village’s location could potentially…
- Thailand News
Koh Phangan hotel probed after complaints of cultural appropriation for Angkor Wat design
A Koh Phangan hotel is saying sorry for using Cambodia’s culture and famous landmarks, including the popular Angkor Wat, in what looks to be a case of cultural appropriation, misusing or misrepresenting a culture and profiting off it. An investigation into the claims of cultural appropriation has been launched by Surat Thani Culture Office. Cambodia’s Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts is also…
- Entertainment
Minister promises a year of ‘Khon’
“The ministry will next year nominate nuad thai (Thai massage) and the southern traditional dance nora for inclusion on the UNESCO list.” The Culture Ministry is planning a year of activities to further promote ‘khon’, the classical masked-dance theatre that has now been added to UNESCO’s list of ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage’. Members of the UN Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organisation…
- Thailand News
Thai Khon now listed with UNESCO as ‘intangible heritage of humanity’
Thai khon drama, or the ‘masked dance’ drama, is now listed as an ‘intangible heritage of humanity’ by UNESSCO. On the ceremony yesterday, UNESCO also listed Cambodia’s khon drama as an intangible heritage of humanity. Reacting to UNESCO’s decision, Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha posted in his Facebook page that he was pleased with the decision and he credited this achievement…
