Sukhothai is a historic city located north of Bangkok. It was designated a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in 1991. With a population of 607,807. Sukhothai has a rich legacy of art and craftsmanship. The city has become a hub for local handicrafts, employing 1,300 artisans in industries such as weaving, gold and silver jewelry making, as well as pottery and celadon ceramics. The estimated revenue from these crafts and folk arts totals approximately $33.7 million USD. These crafts not only reflect Sukhothai’s ancient wisdom but also play a crucial role in boosting the city’s economy.

The province of Sukhothai holds immense cultural capital, as recognized by UNESCO through four designations (1) A World Heritage City in 1991, (2) A Memory of the World Heritage in 2003, (3) A member of the Creative Cities Network in the field of Crafts and Folk Art, designated on October 30, 2019, requiring reports every four years per the Membership Monitoring Guidelines, and (4) A Learning City, designated on September 2, 2022.

These recognitions reflect strong collaboration and support from all sectors, including government, private sector, civil society, and all people. Such efforts benefit the residents of Sukhothai while ensuring sound environmental management. This contributes to enhancing and adding value to the province as a whole, establishing Sukhothai’s visibility as an internationally recognized city. It also generates income through cultural and creative tourism, both for the province and the country.

Additionally, Sukhothai has integrated the missions of UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network (UCCN) into its urban strategic planning. The first five-year UCCN Action Plan (2021–2025) was launched in 2020, and the second four-year UCCN Action Plan (2024–2027) has been implemented since 2024. Importantly, the current UCCN action plan incorporates the MONDIACULT 2022 declaration, further aligning Sukhothai’s initiatives with global cultural policies.