UNESCO to Conduct On-Site Survey for Chiang Mai World Heritage Candidacy

UNESCO is preparing to send an inspection team to Chiang Mai in June to assess the city's potential World Heritage site status. The assessment will cover eight key cultural landscape sites, including seven historic temples and the city's ancient layout. Pichai Lertpongadisorn, president of the Chiang Mai Provincial Administrative Organisation, noted that the bid has been ongoing since 2015, with local support and a budget of 5 million baht. The eight locations include significant temples like Wat Chiang Man, Wat Phra Singh, and Wat Chedi Luang, along with the historic city gates, bastions, and moat. If the June inspection proceeds successfully, an official decision on World Heritage status is expected later this year, which could boost conservation efforts and tourism development.