Chiang Mai’s historical and cultural sites have been added to the “tentative” list of Unesco World Heritage sites, Culture Minister Vira Rojpojchanarat said Monday.
Approval of Thailand's February application to add Chiang Mai to a list of sites to be considered by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization was made during Unesco's World Heritage Committee meetings being held in Germany through Wednesday.
Thailand sent a delegation to meetings, which began on June 28, led by Natural Resources and Environment Minister Dapong Ratanasuwan.
The "tentative" list is an inventory of properties which a country intends to nominate to Unesco's World Heritage List. The proposed site must be on the tentative list at least one year before a nomination dossier can be submitted to Unesco.
Inclusion on the tentative list is no guarantee of winning world heritage status. Myanmar's famed and historic city of Bagan, with 250 ancient temples, has been on the list since 1996.
Thailand already has four sites on the tentative list: Phimai, its "cultural route" and associated temples of Phanomroong and Muangtam; Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan in Nakhon Si Thammarat; Phu Phrabat Historical Park in Udon Thani; and the Kaeng Krachan forest complex.
Mr Vira said authorities would prepare the nomination for Chinag Mai's historical and cultural sites.
He said UN experts would visit Phu Phrabat Historical Park soon and the site, which has been on the tentative list since 2004, is hoped to gain world heritage status next year.
Mr Vira said the culture ministry planned to add three more potential sites and properties to the tentative list including Wat Suthat Thepwararam and the Giant Swing in Bangkok and Prince Naris's architecture.
Thailand National Committee for World Heritage submitted the application of Chiang Mai to the Unesco on Feb 9 this year.
The committee's submission described Chiang Mai as the capital of ancient Lanna kingdom which spanned 700 years. The nominated properties are monuments, historic sites and cultural landscapes.