A campaign has been launched to nominate Kanchanaburi's Death Railway, ancient Chiang Saen and historic Chiang Mai for inclusion on Unesco's World Heritage List.
The move is spearheaded by senators Sahaphan Rungrojpanich of Kanchanaburi, Maneerat Khemawong of Chiang Rai and Prayad Jatupornpitakkul of Chiang Mai, along with the World Heritage Conservation Club civic network.
They said the nominations would bolster conservation efforts, promote sustainable cultural tourism and boost the local economy.
The proposal was submitted on Tuesday to the Senate Committee on Religion, Morality, Ethics, Arts and Culture, chaired by Senator Amon Srikongphan.
Senator Sahaphan said the Death Railway holds exceptional significance in world history as a reminder of the horrors of World War II and the resilience of those forced to build it under extreme hardship.
He said the site aligns with Unesco criteria as an outstanding example of wartime engineering directly associated with major historical events.
World Heritage status would help preserve the railway as a memorial to the devastating consequences of war while promoting universal peace, he added.
Senator Maneerat said Chiang Saen, once a capital of the Lanna Kingdom on the Mekong River, is distinguished by its rectangular city layout and early Lanna architecture reflecting multiple civilisations.
Listing the site would safeguard archaeological landmarks, including Wat Pa Sak and the ancient walls, while promoting community-based tourism in the Golden Triangle region, she said.
