Busan: The wait is over. UNESCO has officially inscribed Wat Phra Mahathat as a World Heritage Site, making it the 6th cultural World Heritage Site and the 9th World Heritage Site in Thailand.
According to Thai News Agency, at the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee in Busan, South Korea, the temple "Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province" was approved as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This marks the 6th World Heritage Site and the 9th in Thailand, as well as the first World Heritage Site in Southern Thailand. The Minister of Culture, Sabida Thaiseth, live-streamed this historic moment on her Facebook page, inviting Thais to share in the celebration.
Mr. Suchart Chomklin, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment and head of the Thai delegation, delivered a statement expressing gratitude to the World Heritage Committee, the World Heritage Centre, the advisory organizations, and the States Parties for their support of Thailand's nomination. He affirmed that the Thai government prioritizes the conservation of cultural heritage as a legacy of humanity and is ready to seriously implement the World Heritage Committee's recommendations in order to preserve the outstanding universal value of Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan for generations to come.
Mr. Suchart stated that this achievement is not only a source of pride for the people of Nakhon Si Thammarat province, but also for all Thais, and reflects the cooperation of all sectors in promoting this heritage site to international recognition.
Following registration, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, through the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONREP), as the central coordinating agency for the World Heritage Convention in Thailand, will monitor the implementation of the World Heritage Committee's recommendations and coordinate with relevant agencies both domestically and internationally. This aims to elevate the management of World Heritage sites to international standards, while simultaneously preserving their outstanding universal value, promoting sustainable tourism, and ensuring community participation.
This registration not only increases Thailand's number of World Heritage Sites to nine, but also marks a new chapter in the history of the South, with the first World Heritage Site receiving recognition from UNESCO. It is another significant step in elevating Thailand's cultural heritage to global recognition.