Thailand seeks World Heritage status for Wat Phra Mahathat

Khaosod•Politics•1d ago

Reader Briefing

Thailand's delegation attends the 48th Session of the World Heritage Committee in Busan, South Korea, to push for the registration of Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan.

•The 48th Session of the World Heritage Committee is held in Busan, Republic of Korea, from July 19–29, 2026.
•Suchart Chomklin leads the Thai delegation to push for the registration of Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan in Nakhon Si Thammarat province.
•The World Heritage Committee is scheduled to consider the Thai nomination on July 25–26, 2026.
•If successful, Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan would be Thailand's 6th cultural world heritage site and 9th world heritage site overall.

Overview

•The 48th Session of the World Heritage Committee takes place in Busan, Republic of Korea, from July 19 to 29, 2026.
•Representatives from 196 state party members, UNESCO, and related international organizations are attending the meeting.
•Suchart Chomklin serves as the head of the Thai delegation, accompanied by Raweewan Phuridej, Bannarak Sermthong, and Atthapol Charuchansa.
•The World Heritage Committee will consider the nomination of Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan on July 25–26, 2026.
•Suchart Chomklin assigned the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP) to monitor the meeting and coordinate with the World Heritage Centre.
•Suchart Chomklin states the participation reflects the Thai government's commitment to obligations under the World Heritage Convention.
•Success in the nomination would establish Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan as Thailand's 6th cultural world heritage site.

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Key Entities

Person

Suchart Chomklin(สุชาติ ชมกลิ่น)ℹ️

Minister of Natural Resources and Environment and head of the Thai delegation to the 48th World Heritage Committee session.

Raweewan Phuridej(รวีวรรณ ภูริเดช)

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

Bannarak Sermthong(บรรณรักษ์ เสริมทอง)

Secretary-General of the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning.

Atthapol Charuchansa(อรรถพล เจริญชันษา)

Director General of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation.

Organization

Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment(กระทรวงทรัพยากรธรรมชาติและสิ่งแวดล้อม)ℹ️

The ministry responsible for driving national world heritage conservation policies.

Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning(สำนักงานนโยบายและแผนทรัพยากรธรรมชาติและสิ่งแวดล้อม)

The central coordinating agency for the World Heritage Convention in Thailand.

Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation(กรมอุทยานแห่งชาติ สัตว์ป่า และพันธุ์พืช)ℹ️

A government agency represented in the Thai delegation for the world heritage meeting.

UNESCO(ยูเนสโก)ℹ️

An international organization involved in the World Heritage Committee session.

World Heritage Committee(คณะกรรมการมรดกโลก)ℹ️

The body responsible for considering new world heritage site registrations and monitoring conservation status.

Place

Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan(วัดพระมหาธาตุวรมหาวิหาร)ℹ️

A site in Nakhon Si Thammarat province being proposed for registration as a cultural world heritage site.

Nakhon Si Thammarat Province(จังหวัดนครศรีธรรมราช)ℹ️

The location of Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan.

Busan(นครปูซาน)ℹ️

The city in the Republic of Korea where the 48th Session of the World Heritage Committee is held.

Republic of Korea(สาธารณรัฐเกาหลี)ℹ️

The country hosting the 48th Session of the World Heritage Committee.

Law

World Heritage Convention(อนุสัญญาคุ้มครองมรดกโลก)ℹ️

The international convention under which world heritage sites are protected and registered.