PRESS ADVISORY: UNESCO-DASTA renew cooperation for sustainable tourism at heritage sites in Thailand

To promote sustainable development at heritage sites in Thailand, notably through sustainable tourism, UNESCO and DASTA are entering a new era of cooperation, with the signing of a MOU covering 2019-2022. The event took place at 10am on 28 January 2019 at the UNESCO Bangkok Office.

In the upcoming four years, the two organizations plan to widen efforts to benefit other historic cities such as Nan and Uthong, which are designated areas under DASTA’s mandate. Nan, a historic city rich in Buddhist temples and local heritage, has been tapped as having possible World Heritage values.  Uthong is one of the seats of the ancient Dvaravati civilization, and also has potential as a cultural tourism destination. Future cooperation will seek to improve the well-being and livelihoods for communities through support to World Heritage, intangible cultural heritage, cultural tourism, cultural industries and creative cities.

The collaboration builds upon the success of earlier co-creation activities initiated in 2014, when the two organizations implemented the ‘Cultural Heritage Specialist Guides for the Historic Town of Sukhothai and Associated Historic Towns World Heritage Sites’ project. The two-year project resulted in Thailand’s first officially certified local cultural heritage guides.

Shigeru Aoyagi, Director of UNESCO Bangkok, and Taweebhong Wichaidit, Director-General of DASTA, signed the MOU on Monday.

UNESCO is a specialized United Nations agency whose mission is to contribute to the building of peace, the eradication of poverty, sustainable development and intercultural dialogue through education, the sciences, culture, communication and information.

The Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA) is a public organization with roles and responsibilities in sustainable tourism, through coordination for integrated administration of areas with valuable tourism resources, and acts as an important driving force in the administration of the country’s tourism industry.

Media contact

Jeremy Clay Walden-Schertz
Media Officer
UNESCO Bangkok
Tel.: (66 2) 391-0577 Ext. 347
Fax: (66 2) 391-0866
Email: jc.schertz@unesco.org

Matana Menkae
PR Media Officer
DASTA
Tel.: (66 2) 357 3580 Ext. 402
Fax: (66 2) 357 3590
Email: matana.m@dasta.or.th