The caretaker prime minister has expressed his satisfaction with a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Government Spokesperson Anucha Burapachaisri said Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha congratulated the memorandum signing between both agencies. He stressed that the partnership between DASTA and UNESCO in promoting sustainable tourism and cultural heritages aligns with the government’s priorities of social responsibility, community engagement, environmental conservation and balanced tourism development that complements national economic growth.
The partnership between DASTA and UNESCO began with the signing of an inaugural MoU in 2014, which was renewed in 2019. Its primary objective is to promote sustainable development techniques at Thailand’s cultural sites. Several activities have been carried out under the MoU, including seminars on the use of the “Visitor Management Assessment and Strategy Tool (VMAST)” in Thailand and other Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) nations.
The most recent MoU, signed on June 28, will focus on designated areas under DASTA’s jurisdiction that will serve as pilot sites for collaborative efforts. The upcoming activities will primarily involve capacity-building, safeguarding tangible and intangible heritage, and the launch of a project titled ‘Achieving Sustainable Tourism with Intangible Cultural Heritage and Creative Cities Network in Waterway Cities of ASEAN.’ The project, funded by ASEAN-Türkiye Cooperation, is set to be launched next month.
This collaboration is seen as a significant opportunity to promote sustainable tourism, local development, and the preservation of cultural and natural heritage sites, including Creative Cities and other tourism destinations across Thailand. (NNT)
