On 15 June, Ms. Sabida Thaiset, Minister of Culture, said after the first meeting of the Cultural World Heritage Subcommittee in 2026 that the meeting was informed of progress regarding the nomination of Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan in Nakhon Si Thammarat for World Heritage status. This nomination has been included on the agenda for the 48th Ordinary Session of the World Heritage Committee in Busan, Republic of Korea, expected to be considered between 25-27 July. This is seen as a positive sign and a source of pride for Thais, as Wat Phra Mahathat would become Thailand’s sixth cultural World Heritage site. The process has encountered no issues, with only additional studies requested. The Fine Arts Department, together with Nakhon Si Thammarat province, has completed some of these studies and plans to submit the remaining information by 2029.
The Minister of Culture added that the meeting also discussed preparing documents to nominate other cultural heritage sites in Thailand for consideration by the World Heritage Committee. These include various memorial sites and the cultural landscape of Chiang Mai, the ancient capital of Lanna. The Chiang Mai Provincial Administrative Organization has prepared and submitted nomination documents, which are now under evaluation. The World Heritage Centre has coordinated with ICOMOS experts to conduct an on-site assessment from 3-8 August to gather information and comments to support submission for the 49th Ordinary Session of the World Heritage Committee in 2027.
“The meeting also approved a draft document requesting preliminary evaluation of the prang at Wat Arun Ratchawararam, a symbol of the Rattanakosin era. This will be presented to the National Committee on the World Heritage Convention and the Cabinet for approval to submit the document to the World Heritage Centre by 15 September,” Ms. Sabida said.