Plan to elevate Muay Thai to heritage status

Secretary-general Somchai Sianglai said yesterday the advisory committee for cultural heritage registration had fully recommended Muay Thai, but specifically defined it as a traditional martial art that had been passed on from generation to generation for a long time, not Thai boxing as a kind of sports competition.

The committee also agreed on the need to produce a national Thai boxing manual to compile as much accurate information about Muay Thai as possible.

Thai boxing should be organised and ranked for use in the domestic teaching of Thais and foreigners who were interested in it. This would also immensely boost its economic value, like Tae Kwan Do in Korea.

The commission, which is under the Culture Ministry, will host a ceremony to announce the registration of Muay Thai along with 20 other items as a cultural heritage on July 30 at the Cultural Centre's small conference hall.

A Muay Thai exhibition and demonstrations from various schools will also be featured.

The commission will prepare Muay Thai teaching materials to promote public understanding and pride in this cultural heritage and find ways to enhance its commercial appeal.

Somchai said he intends to support Muay Thai as a world heritage in the future.