Plan to push for Thai traditional massage to be included in Unesco’s World Heritage list



BANGKOK: -- Thailand will try to push for traditional Thai massage to be included in Unesco’s list of world’s cultural heritage, said Dr Boonruang Trairuangworawat, director-general of Health Service Support Department, on Wednesday.

He disclosed that at a recent discussion on the matter among representatives of the Health Service Support Department, the Department for Development of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, the Ministry of Culture, the regional office of Unesco and the private sector, all agreed with the idea to push for the inclusion of Thai traditional massage in Unesco’s world cultural heritage list.

Dr Boonruang noted that Thai traditional massage was a legacy of Thai local wisdom dated back to more than 600 years ago and there are two types of the massage – one which was practiced in the Royal court and the other by common people.

He disclosed that the matter was also raised with the Labour Ministry as labour law needs to be updated to make sure the quality of Thai traditional massage must be standardized and that the massage is preserved as an occupation for Thai nationals.

In order to apply for the Unesco’s listing, Dr Pattharapol Jungsomjetpaisarn of the Department of Health Service Support said that the department must prepare necessary information about Thai traditional massage in full details to the national committee on the convention of world heritage protection headed by Deputy Prime Minister Thanasak Patimaprakorn for consideration.

The proposal will need cabinet’s endorsement before it is submitted to the Bureau of the World Heritage Committee in Paris.

Currently, five sites in Thailand have been put in the Unesco’s World Heritage List. They are Sukhothai ancient city, Ayutthaya ancient city, Ban Chiang, Thung Yai-Huey Kha Khaeng wildlife sanctuary and Dong Prayayen-Khao Yai forests.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/173207-2/


-- Thai PBS 2016-07-21

Next thing on the list, the TAT's Guinness Book of World Records for most Thai massages given at once as a PR event....requiring a billion baht budget of course.

Edited July 20, 20169 yr by tomyummer

Thai traditional massage seriously has nothing to do with sex, but go tell that to all the Westerners on the world......

The founder of Thai massage and medicine is said to have been

Shivago Komarpaj (Jīvaka Komarabhācca), who is said in the Pāli Buddhist canon

to have been the Buddha's physician over 2,500 years ago.

He was from northen India.

The founder of Thai massage and medicine is said to have been

Shivago Komarpaj (Jīvaka Komarabhācca), who is said in the Pāli Buddhist canon

to have been the Buddha's physician over 2,500 years ago.

He was from northen India.

Oh Dear.

I think Som Tam should be included in the World Heritage list. After all I can't remember seeing it in London or Liverpool

So they even copied that!

Package it up with pole dancing and score a double win. But on a serious note, I might have misunderstood but I thought UNESCO's world heritage list was for physical sites, not cultural activities?

The founder of Thai massage and medicine is said to have been

Shivago Komarpaj (Jīvaka Komarabhācca), who is said in the Pāli Buddhist canon

to have been the Buddha's physician over 2,500 years ago.

He was from northen India.

so it's really Northern Indian Massage? and the Thais, like the Ramakien, just 'borowed' it?

Several off-topic and troll posts have been removed from this thread.

Happy ending also

May as well apply to have Pesto included in Unesco's world heritage list - that and Haggis

The happy ending part might actually be a true Thai invention. Rare.

The founder of Thai massage and medicine is said to have been

Shivago Komarpaj (Jīvaka Komarabhācca), who is said in the Pāli Buddhist canon

to have been the Buddha's physician over 2,500 years ago.

He was from northen India.

Oh Dear.

What does Oh Dear mean?

Well TAT will be pushing for Thai Massage hub very soon. Of course without Happy ending, sad to say But BJ's bars are still in the running.

Off topic nonsense posts have now been removed.

I hope the move does gain UNESCO approval...I like a story with a happy ending.

"Dr Boonruang noted that Thai traditional massage was a legacy of Thai local wisdom dated back to more than 600 years ago and there are two types of the massage – one which was practiced in the Royal court and the other by common people."

Don't know why they are always so proud of their two-tiered systems.

Package it up with pole dancing and score a double win. But on a serious note, I might have misunderstood but I thought UNESCO's world heritage list was for physical sites, not cultural activities?

Oh I'm sure they could erect something.

Many showing real ignorance very clearly, there is a massive difference between traditional Thai Massage and what it would seem most posters so far have or still pursue to get their rocks-off.

The Thai traditional massage is one of the reasons I travel to Thailand. It has nothing to do with "happy ending", as so many westerners like to either equate it with or think it is humorous to suggest. It really is the most relaxing part of almost everyday I am there. And it is affordable, unlike my own country where it is more of a luxury.

Off topic nonsense posts have now been removed.

I think you need to remove some more, particularly those posts which reflect a grade 8 level of humour, unless you want to down grade this forum to the point of utter stupidity.