Thailand Celebrates Ninth World Heritage Site
UNESCO said the listing will aid conservation and strengthen local cooperation, while tourism arrivals fell more than 3% in Thailand in the first half of 2026.
- On Sunday, the government announced that Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan in Nakhon Si Thammarat province is Thailand's ninth World Heritage Site, marking the nation's first such designation in its southern region.
- Also known as Phra Mahathat, the monastery has "served as a major regional Buddhist centre since its founding in the eighth century," according to UNESCO, featuring diverse architectural influences from Brahmanism and Hinduism.
- Officials and monks marked the recognition on Saturday by chanting blessings and banging a gong at the site, which includes towering grey stupas, a massive reclining Buddha statue, and ornate guardian deity representations.
- UNESCO listings are thought to boost tourism, a key economic sector that recently saw a more than 3 per cent decline, while inscription will strengthen national and local cooperation for sustainable management, the Thai foreign ministry said.
- Integrated influences from India, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar, including Mahayana Buddhism and Theravada Buddhism, define the monastery's character, as these cultural elements have been deeply integrated into its religious buildings and rituals.
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12 Articles
Le Journal de Montreal
Le Journal de QuebecA multi-sacular monastery in southern Thailand has just been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Fine Arts Department, in collaboration with Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, is organizing a grand event to broadcast live the decision on whether to register Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan as Thailand's 9th World Heritage Site and the first World Heritage Site in Southern Thailand.
Surasak is expanding public relations efforts to attract foreign tourists to Nakhon Si Thammarat after UNESCO recognized it as a World Heritage Site. He also hinted that Thais are preparing for another round of celebrations as the government and the Ministry of Culture continue to promote traditional Thai costumes.
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