Surachak is pleased that Wat Mahathat in Nakhon Si Thammarat is on track to become a World Heritage Site. He confirms that the Ministry of Tourism is preparing cultural tour packages to boost income and establish Thailand as a global travel destination.
On 7 Jul 2026, Mr. Surachak Charoenkul, Minister of Tourism, revealed that progress on Wat Mahathat in Nakhon Si Thammarat becoming a cultural World Heritage Site has advanced over 90 percent. The official announcement from UNESCO is expected between 19 - 29 July 2026. He expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Culture, which has been the main agency driving and pushing this effort.
Mr. Surachak added that the Ministry of Tourism is fully prepared to promote and support tourism to ancient sites and World Heritage locations. They have arranged packages to accommodate overall tourism demand. The UNESCO designation of Wat Mahathat will greatly benefit promotion and marketing efforts by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the Ministry, as it can be referenced as a global cultural tourism site.
"Currently, the Ministry is advancing initiatives for attractive city tourism, focusing on linking cultural tourism among cities in the north, south, central, and northeast regions. There is also promotion of tourism via rail to connect travel routes and distribute income widely to local communities. Elevating Wat Mahathat to this status will be a key magnet attracting both Thai and international tourists," he said. Mr. Surachak concluded his remarks.