Sabida prepares Chiang Mai for ICOMOS World Heritage evaluation

MGR Online•Society•2d ago

Reader Briefing

Culture Minister Sabida Thaiseth visited Chiang Mai on July 18, 2026, to inspect readiness for the ICOMOS technical evaluation of the city's World Heritage bid.

•Sabida Thaiseth led a delegation to Chiang Mai on July 18, 2026.
•ICOMOS will conduct a Technical Evaluation Mission in Chiang Mai from August 3-8, 69.
•Thailand submitted the Nomination Dossier to the World Heritage Centre in Paris on February 1, 2026.
•The World Heritage Committee is expected to consider the bid during its annual general meeting in 2027.

Overview

•Sabida Thaiseth led a delegation to inspect sites including Tha Phae Gate and Wat Chedi Luang to prepare for the ICOMOS technical evaluation.
•ICOMOS is scheduled to perform the Technical Evaluation Mission from August 3-8, 69.
•The Cabinet approved the nomination documents on January 13, 2026, and Thailand submitted the Nomination Dossier on February 1, 2026.
•The site was included in the UNESCO Tentative List since 2015.
•The nomination is based on Outstanding Universal Value criteria (ii) regarding Buddhist influence and (iii) representing Lanna civilization during the 19th-20th Buddhist centuries.
•The proposed area consists of three main groups: city walls/moats/corners, the Wat Umong Suan Phutthatham and Wat Phra That Doi Suthep group, and the Wat Chet Yod group.
•Following the field evaluation, ICOMOS will prepare a report for the World Heritage Committee, with final consideration expected in June-July 2027.

Full article content is available on the original source.

Read on MGR Online (Thai Version)View in Google Translate

Source: MGR Online (Original)

View Original Article

Key Quotes

Sabida Thaiseth

"The Ministry of Culture, through the Fine Arts Department, 7th Regional Office of Fine Arts Chiang Mai, is ready to support and advise Chiang Mai Province, Chiang Mai Provincial Administrative Organization, as well as government agencies, academia, the public, and all sectors in managing the area according to World Heritage Convention standards."

กระทรวงวัฒนธรรม โดยกรมศิลปากร สำนักศิลปากรที่ 7 เชียงใหม่ พร้อมที่จะให้การสนับสนุนและให้คำแนะนำจังหวัดเชียงใหม่ องค์การบริหารส่วนจังหวัดเชียงใหม่ ตลอดจนหน่วยงานภาครัฐ ภาควิชาการ ภาคประชาชน และทุกภาคส่วน ในการบริหารจัดการพื้นที่ให้เป็นไปตามมาตรฐานของอนุสัญญามรดกโลกตามภารกิจ

Key Entities

Person

Sabida Thaiseth(ซาบีดา ไทยเศรษฐ์)ℹ️

Minister of Culture who led the inspection team in Chiang Mai.

Prasop Riangngern(ประสพ เรียงเงิน)

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Culture.

Rattapol Naradison(รัฐพล นราดิศร)

Governor of Chiang Mai Province.

Jetsada Cheevavichvalkul(เจษฎา ชีวะวิชวาลกุล)

Inspector General of the Ministry of Culture.

Sarasnan Annanopphon(สรัสนันท์ อรรณนพพร)

Secretary to the Minister of Culture.

Khanittha Chotikwanich(ขนิษฐา โชติกวณิชย์)

Deputy Director-General of the Fine Arts Department.

Chinnawut Wilayalai(ชินณวุฒิ วิลยาลัย)

Deputy Director-General of the Fine Arts Department.

Potjanat Panyasin(พจนาถ ปัญญาศิลป์)

Deputy Director-General of the Department of Religious Affairs.

Issara Riwtrakulphaiboon(อิสระ ริ้วตระกูลไพบูลย์)

Deputy Director of the Office of Contemporary Art and Culture.

Somchat Wattanakla(สมชาติ วัฒนากล้า)

Deputy Mayor of Chiang Mai Provincial Administrative Organization.

Korawan Summat(กรวรรณ สุ่มมาตย์)

Provincial Culture Officer of Chiang Mai.

Suparuek Phavilai(ศุภฤกษ์ ภาวิไล)

Secretary-General and Chairman of the Chiang Mai City Council.

Organization

Ministry of Culture(กระทรวงวัฒนธรรม)ℹ️

The ministry responsible for overseeing the World Heritage proposal for Chiang Mai.

ICOMOSℹ️

The International Council on Monuments and Sites, serving as a consultant to the World Heritage Committee.

UNESCO(ยูเนสโก)ℹ️

The organization whose World Heritage List Chiang Mai is seeking to join.

Fine Arts Department(กรมศิลปากร)ℹ️

A department under the Ministry of Culture providing support for the nomination process.

7th Regional Office of Fine Arts Chiang Mai(สำนักศิลปากรที่ 7 เชียงใหม่)

The regional office supporting the management of the heritage area.

Chiang Mai Provincial Administrative Organization(องค์การบริหารส่วนจังหวัดเชียงใหม่)

The entity tasked by Chiang Mai province to prepare the nomination documents.

Chiang Mai City Council(สภาเมืองเชียงใหม่)

An organization involved in the coordination of the heritage bid.

Cabinet(คณะรัฐมนตรี)

The government body that approved the nomination documents on January 13, 2026.

Place

Chiang Mai(เชียงใหม่)ℹ️

The city and province proposed for World Heritage listing.

Paris(ปารีส)ℹ️

The city in the French Republic where the World Heritage Centre is located.

Policy

Monuments, Sites and Cultural Landscape of Chiang Mai, Capital of Lanna(อนุสรณ์สถาน แหล่งต่าง ๆ และภูมิทัศน์วัฒนธรรมของเชียงใหม่ นครหลวงล้านนา)

The specific name of the cultural heritage site proposed for UNESCO World Heritage registration.