Former Thai ambassador to France Sihasak Phuangketkeow is likely to win a seat on Unesco's World Heritage Committee, which will appoint its new members later this month, said Natural Resources and Environment Minister Varawut Silpa-archa.
Mr Varawut on Monday expressed confidence after learning that Thailand has received a "good response" from member countries of the UN-sponsored Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage.
Bangkok announced earlier this year that it would field a Thai representative to run for one of the posts.
Thailand has campaigned for a seat since April and has so far received good support, he said.
"I believe everything will go in a good direction," Mr Varawut said yesterday after a meeting on the convention, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon.
Unesco is based in Paris, where Mr Sihasak served as the Thai ambassador to France. Mr Sihasak also led a Thai team that worked on proposals to ask Unesco to grant World Heritage status to several sites in the country.
The World Heritage Committee is scheduled to meet in the French capital on Nov 27 and 28, where it will consider the qualifications of applicants vying for seats on the committee.
The move to compete for a committee seat comes as Thailand is pushing ahead with a proposal to list Si Thep Historical Park in Phetchabun and Phanom Rung-Muang Tam-Plaibat Temple Ruins Complex in Buri Ram as new World Heritage sites.
Unesco put them on its "tentative list" in July. Thailand also wants Kaeng Krachan National Park in Phetchaburi listed as a natural World Heritage site.