Unesco has placed the Si Thep Historical Park and Phanom Rung-Muang Tam-Plai Bat temple ruin complex in Buri Ram on its "tentative list" of World Heritage Sites.
Ananda Chuchoti, director-general of the Fine Arts Department, said yesterday that the ruin complex in Buri Ram and will now be considered for nomination as a World Heritage Site.
The attractions' admission to the tentative list was established at the 43rd session of the World Heritage Committee held in Baku, Azerbaijan from June 30 until today.
The committee is also requiring Thailand to submit more documents describing the two cultural sites' outstanding universal value.
Mr Anandha added that conference attendees also discussed the issue of State of Conservation reports, saying that 112 World Heritage Sites are still required to forward their reports to the committee, including the Ayutthaya Historical Park of Thailand.
An aerial view is seen of Si Thep Historical Park in Phetchabun — one of two sites which have been placed on the ‘tentative list’ of World Heritage sites. (Photo courtesy of Fine Arts Department)
The World Heritage Committee was satisfied with the overall actions taken by authorities to improve conservation of the sites and address problems such as vendor intrusion, which put the Ayutthaya Historical Park of Thailand at risk of being stripped of its status, according to Mr Anandha.
However, the committee also asked that Thailand to carry out the demolition of the buildings belonging to Phranakhon Si Ayutthaya Rajabhat University, which are located in the World Heritage Site area.
The committee also suggested that the boundaries of the historical park should be expanded to further preserve the artefacts of the civilisation and culture of old Ayutthaya.