Thailand Pushes Muay Thai Toward UNESCO World Heritage Status
Thailand has launched an international seminar on muay Thai as part of efforts to secure UNESCO World Heritage status for the martial art, with the Cabinet already approving a nomination expected for consideration in 2028. The event in Phet
On August 5, 2025, at Rachaprachanukul School 47 in Cha-am District, Phetchaburi Province, Thiwvalrat Angkinanthon, a Phetchaburi MP from the Bhumjaithai Party and chair of parliament's Religion, Arts, and Culture Committee, opened the 2025 International Muay Thai Seminar. The event, organized by the Siam Indigenous Sports Association in collaboration with multiple network partners, aims to promote knowledge, elevate standards, and advance muay Thai to the global stage. The seminar runs from August 5–12, after which international participants will tour Thailand to stimulate the economy.
The event drew 101 foreign participants from 10 countries, alongside Thai association members, trainers, athletes, and officials, reflecting muay Thai's growing popularity worldwide and global confidence in the association's work. Participation increases each year. A highlight was Thiwvalrat performing a traditional muay Thai wai khru (teacher's salute) for attendees, drawing applause and cheers and underscoring that muay Thai is not merely a combat sport but a treasured cultural heritage of Thailand.
Thiwvalrat stated that muay Thai is more than a fighting art or sport bringing fame to Thailand—it is a cultural intellectual heritage reflecting the Thai spirit of courage, discipline, and identity recognized by nations worldwide. She emphasized the seminar's importance as a forum for knowledge exchange, developing training standards, and collectively setting guidelines to preserve muay Thai while keeping pace with modern change while maintaining its original identity and value.
The chair noted that the Cabinet approved a 2024 resolution to nominate "Muay Thai (Thai Traditional Boxing)" as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity to UNESCO, with consideration expected in 2571 (2028). Thiwvalrat pledged to fully support the registration to preserve, continue, and develop muay Thai's value in cultural, economic, and national image dimensions. She believes multi-sector cooperation will elevate muay Thai to international standards and inspire Thai youth to exercise with pride in their nation's valuable arts, passing this intellectual legacy to future generations.
Beyond seminars and knowledge exchange, foreign participants will visit Phetchaburi's important cultural heritage sites, including Wat Yai Suwan Aram.
