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HISTORICAL PARK INTHE INTERNATIONALSPOTLIGHTUdon Thani’s Phu Phra Bat park, with its wealth of natural and cultural attractions, is a potential UNESCO world heritage siteAmbassadors and diplomats from 27 countries, along with their spouses and representatives of UNESCO and SEAMEO SPAFA, the Southeast Asian centre for archaeology and fine arts, were given a brief lecture about the park and visited the siteThailand’s Northeast is teeming with archaeological marvels, one of which is Udon Thani’s prehistoric Ban Chiang, a UNESCO world heritage site since 1992. While the site has been enjoying its cultural status and has becomea world renowned travel destination, Phu Phra Bat Historical Park in the same province has been building towards a similar position. To gain international support for its enlistment, the Ministry of Culture hosted the “Eighth Exclusive Cultural Trip for Diplomatic Corps” in mid-February, bringing Bangkok-based diplomats and representatives of international organizations to the park and to other attractions in Udon Thani, as well as to nearby Vientiane, Laos. The trip aimed to give participants an orientation of the park, illustrate its cultural and tourism significance, and promote the region’s cultural and natural heritage.Ambassadors and diplomats from 27 countries, along with their spouses and representatives of UNESCO and SEAMEO SPAFA, the Southeast Asian centre for archaeology and fine arts, were given a brief lecture about the park and visited the site. The group learned about the cultural and archaeological value of the site, and what elements allowed it to meet UNESCO world heritage criteria.Phu Phra Bat Historical Park has been in the cultural landscape category of the UNESCO world heritage tentative list since 2004. According to Vira Rojpojchanarat, Thailand’s minister of culture, Phu Phra Bat meets the criteria for world heritage status, especially four key points: sites must bear an exceptional testimony of a living or extinct cultural tradition or civilization; have an outstanding architectural ensemble or landscape illustrating a significant stage in human history; be an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement or land use representing human interaction with the environment; and be associated with events or living traditions, with ideas or beliefs or artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance.“It is very likely that Phu Phhra Bat will become Thailand’s fourth UNESCO cultural world heritage site,” said Mr Vira. “While Ayutthaya and Sukhothai historical parks meet only two of the six criteria, and Ban Chiang three, Phu Phra Bat covers four. Our culture-related government units have beenElite+ 47