Thailand has confirmed its intention to propose to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) that "Thai massage" be listed as cultural heritage, said Culture Minister Vira Rojpojchanarat.
Speaking after a meeting of the government's committee on cultural and wisdom heritage protection and promotion Monday, Mr Vira said the Department of Cultural Promotion had responded to Unesco's request for Thailand to confirm its intention to submit Thai massage to its intergovernmental committee for its next round of consideration in 2019.
As for the Thai khon masked dance that is also being considered for the same status, the results are expected in December this year, he said.
The government committee has also discussed a proposal to have Korea's masked dance drama of hahoe and Thailand's phi ta khon listed as joint cultural heritage, which is permitted under Unesco's 2003 convention for the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage, he said.
Phi ta khon is a traditional Halloween-like masked performance which originated in the northeastern province of Loei.
This idea of seeking Thai-Korean cooperation will in the future be expanded into bilateral cooperation to organise regional and global festivals, he said.
The committee also discussed this year's plan for selecting the country's top 10 cultural heritages, said Mr Vira.
