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'Thailand Pass' for non-Thais scrapped, new guidelines issued for masks

14 Sept 11:34 Key points summarised by AI

**Eliminates 'Thailand Pass' and Insurance:** From July 1, non-Thai arrivals are no longer required to apply for the 'Thailand Pass' or hold US$10,000 insurance coverage.
**Streamlines Entry Procedures:** While vaccination or a COVID-19 test certificate remains necessary, the 'Tor Mor 6' (TM6) immigration form and body temperature screening are scrapped to ease airport congestion.
**Relaxes Mask Mandates & Business Hours:** Face masks are now recommended rather than compulsory, with specific guidelines for removal. Additionally, pubs and bars can resume regular operating hours past midnight, and all zones are reclassified as Green with minimal restrictions.
**Boosts Tourism Projections:** The Tourism Minister anticipates a significant increase in foreign arrivals, projecting 7.5 to 10 million visitors by year-end due to these eased regulations.

Today 14:58 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's government will launch the "Chainat-Pasak-Gulf" water diversion canal project in fiscal year 2027, a seven-year mega-infrastructure initiative.
This permanent structural solution aims to mitigate recurrent central plains flooding by diverting water from the Chao Phraya River directly into the Gulf of Thailand, significantly reducing flow to major cities like Ayutthaya and Bangkok.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul justifies the long-term investment as a means to reduce future damages and fiscal burdens, contrasting it with the 40-50 billion baht spent annually on short-term flood relief.
Concurrently, the Prime Minister instructed officials to expand drainage capacity into the Tha Chin River and swiftly remove water hyacinths to improve immediate flood management.