Thailand’s Jurassic Park
Thailand’s northeastern region, dubbed Thailand’s Jurassic Park, is leveraging its rich dinosaur fossil discoveries to boost tourism and scientific research, with a 2026 festival set to highlight the nation’s prehistoric legacy. The area, centered around Phu Wiang National Park, has become a focal point for palaeontological research, with most dinosaur fossils discovered there. Thitiwoot Sethapanichsakul, a PhD student from University College London, explained that the region’s dry climate and sparse vegetation expose fossil-bearing rocks, making discoveries easier. This has positioned the area as a key site for understanding dinosaur evolution, particularly during the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods.
Phu Wiang Valley
Since the 1976 discovery of the first dinosaur fossil in the Phu Wiang Valley, Thailand has transformed into a premier destination for palaeontological research. Over 50 years, systematic excavations—originally sparked by uranium exploration—have revealed at least 25 species, including 14 new to science. These include Siamosaurus suteethorni, Psittacosaurus sattayaraki, Phuwiangosaurus sirindhornae, Siamotyrannus isanensis, Isanosaurus attavipachi, Kinnareemimus khonkaenensis, Siamodon nimngami, Ratchasimasaurus suranareae, Sirindhorna khoratensis, Phuwiangvenator yaemniyomi, Vayuraptor nongbualamphuensis, Siamraptor suwati, Minimocursor phunoiensis, and Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis. These findings have filled critical gaps in the evolutionary record, particularly around the Jurassic-Cretaceous transition, approximately 140 million years ago, according to Suravech Suteethorn, deputy director of the university’s Palaeontological Research and Education Centre. Our local dinosaurs are like missing jigsaw pieces that help establish evolutionary connections,
he said.
Creative Dinosaur and Geopark Tourism Festival
The government’s strategy involves embedding a Dinosaur Identity
into the DNA of Khon Kaen and Kalasin, aiming to create a sustainable economic engine for the Northeast. This vision culminates in the Creative Dinosaur and Geopark Tourism Festival, scheduled to launch in December 2026. The event will feature immersive experiences such as Dinosaur Kingdom Theme Parks, Dino Gastronomy, Dino Fashion Runways, and Dino Dance Battles & Music Festivals. These activities are part of broader efforts to adapt the “Fukui Model,” a Japanese framework integrating excavation sites, university research, professional training, museum exhibitions, and regional tourism. Thailand’s goal is to adapt this approach for Sirindhorn Museum in Kalasin and other fossil museums, transforming them into international centres for research, learning, and community-based tourism.
Thai-Japan Technical Cooperation 2022-2027
Thailand’s palaeontological ambitions are bolstered by the Thai-Japan Technical Cooperation 2022-2027 framework, which covers joint fieldwork, exchanges of fossil data and specimens, museum management, and researcher development. This partnership aims to enhance domestic capacity by promoting fossil surveys, conservation, museum development, and public learning. The Department of Mineral Resources, supported by the Fossil Management Fund, is coordinating efforts with government specialists, universities, and local communities. Richard Cloutier, a professor of palaeontology visiting from Canada’s Universite du Quebec a Rimouski, called Thailand the hotspot for research and discovery
in Southeast Asia, emphasizing its role in filling global evolutionary gaps. However, funding remains a challenge, with Suravech noting the need for private support to match the scale of Hollywood’s investments.
Recent discoveries include the 27-tonne herbivore Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis and the long-necked Uragasaurus kalasinensis. Nagatitan, named after a serpent from Southeast Asian folklore, a giant of Greek mythology and the province of Chaiyaphum where it was found, lived 100-120 million years ago, while Uragasaurus, a plant-eater up to 20 metres (65 feet) long that roamed the Earth around 150 million years ago—the first dinosaur of its kind identified in Thailand. These finds, along with others, have been cataloged at the university, where shelves groan with jagged pieces of spines, necks, and legs that to an untrained eye resemble battered stones. Suravech and his veteran paleontologist father—and boss—Varuvudh are currently working on a dig in Phu Wiang National Park, two hours away, slowly uncovering a giant neck of a fossil they hope to confirm soon as Thailand’s newest dinosaur. These new discoveries indicate the grandeur and richness of our country in the past,
Suravech said.
The 2026 festival represents a pivotal step in Thailand’s geo-tourism strategy, blending scientific heritage with modern cultural experiences. By reimagining the “Siamese giants” through contemporary culture, the event aims to attract both domestic and international visitors. The government’s vision extends beyond tourism, seeking to position Thailand as a global leader in geo-tourism and palaeontological research and education. As the nation prepares for the 2026 festival, the legacy of its dinosaur discoveries continues to evolve, with ongoing excavations and collaborations driving its scientific and economic growth.
