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Jetts Fitness, Thailand’s No.1 24-hour fitness chain, continues its strong growth momentum with the opening of a brand-new club at Future City Rangsit, marking its 54th location nationwide. This milestone underscores Jetts’ commitment to raising fitness standards in Thailand to align with global benchmarks.

Mr Mike Lamb, Chief Executive Officer of Jetts Fitness Asia, stated: ‘The opening of our 54th club at Future City Rangsit represents another significant step forward. This location is rapidly growing in popularity and offers strong potential, making it the perfect fit for Jetts. The launch of this new club is not simply about adding another branch, but about reinforcing our clear ambition to remain the leading fitness brand in Thailand. We are committed to continuously enhancing our equipment, service quality, hygiene standards, and introducing new programs for our members. Our expansion goal is to reach 70 clubs by 2026 and grow to 100 clubs nationwide in the near future-ensuring that everyone in Thailand has access to world-class fitness anytime, anywhere.’

At the event, Jetts Fitness also announced that it will become Thailand’s official HYROX Training Center starting in the fourth quarter of this year. With world-class facilities and equipment, the centre will cater to both professional athletes and fitness enthusiasts preparing for HYROX-the global benchmark in Functional Fitness competitions. This designation not only elevates Jetts’ standards but also diversifies the training programs available to members.

Another highlight is the launch of Les Mills Yoga for the first time in Thailand, exclusively at Jetts Fitness. This innovative program combines physical and mental training in perfect balance, offering members a holistic approach to health and well-being.

Mr Lamb further added: ‘Over the years, Jetts Fitness has partnered with government bodies, private organisations, and the Thai sports industry to promote fitness and healthier lifestyles across the nation. For us, fitness is not just a trend-it is about building long-lasting strength and well-being for everyone. At today’s launch, we were honoured to welcome executives and professional players from True Bangkok United Football Club, who shared their experiences and showcased athletic performance, emphasising the importance of physical fitness not only for athletes but for society as a whole.’

The opening of Jetts Future City Rangsit is more than just an expansion-it reinforces Jetts Fitness’ position as the true leader in health and fitness in Thailand.

The finance minister has confirmed his readiness to launch domestic tourism stimulus measures on Oct 29, in an effort to entice 1.15 trillion baht in domestic travel revenue and accelerate Thailand’s economic recovery.

The ministry is expected to submit a series of domestic tourism stimulus packages to the economic cabinet on Wednesday, then send them to the cabinet on Oct 21 for approval.

“The tourism measures will be enacted simultaneously with the ‘Khon La Khrueng Plus’ co-payment scheme from Oct 29 to Dec 31”, said Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas.

“Enacting both the co-payment and tourism stimulus measures at the same time will make the country’s economy more lively.”

Under the administration’s “Quick Big Win” framework, which seeks short-term results that can lead to long-term sustainable development, the domestic tourism stimulus package is expected to lift GDP, said Mr Ekniti, also a deputy prime minister.

TOURISM STIMULUS

Under the scheme, he identified three measures to quickly stimulate the local tourism industry.

First is a package for seminar-driven tourism in secondary cities. Government organisations and state-owned enterprises are entitled to a corporate income tax exemption for expenses for organising seminars for their employees in areas designated as secondary tourism provinces, or other tourism areas as prescribed by the government.

Mr Ekniti said funds for the seminar stimulus will be reallocated from an amount of 7 billion baht in fiscal 2025’s third-quarter budget.

Second, the “Thai Travel Thai” or tourism within Thailand measure allows taxpayers who travel to second-tier cities from Oct 29 to Dec 31 to deduct an undetermined amount of actual expenses for tour packages and hotel accommodation from their personal income tax filings.

The final measure is incentives for hotel renovation. All hotels reinvesting in their properties, particularly for upgrades in energy efficiency or general refurbishment, will gain tax incentives, he said.

The measure is designed to lift the hotel industry, support economic development, and encourage sustainable building practices, said Mr Ekniti.

The Finance Ministry is working to determine additional details, especially the amount of tax incentives available for deduction.

CO-PAYMENT PLUS

The Khon La Khrueng Plus co-payment scheme, with a budget of 44 billion baht, is expected to bolster GDP in the fourth quarter by at least one percentage point, he said.

The scheme provides 20 million entitlements, with the government contributing half of the spending, while individuals must contribute 44 billion baht themselves, injecting a projected 88 billion baht into the economy.

The subsidy for taxpayers increases to 2,400 baht, up from the general subsidy of 2,000 baht.

The scheme runs from Oct 29-Dec 31, and those who registered but have not used their entitlement must make their first transaction by Nov 11 to retain their eligibility.

The government also approved a top-up for 13.4 million welfare card holders of 1,700 baht each, funded by another budget allocation of 23 billion baht.

This means by year’s end, around 111 billion baht will have been mobilised to stimulate the economy, which is expected to raise GDP by 0.3-0.4 percentage points this year, said Mr Ekniti.

TOUGH DECISION

He also revealed that he took several days before deciding to accept the prime minister’s invitation to become finance minister.

“The invitation resulted in very serious consideration. I discussed it with my wife a lot, acknowledging that taking the post would completely change my lifestyle,” said Mr Ekniti.

“Eventually I decided to accept the job to further the national interest, as Thailand desperately requires economic and fiscal policy restructuring to adapt to new economic conditions, as well as to address issues such as the middle-income trap, debt crises, and the need for greater digitalisation.”

PRECARIOUS ECONOMY

He acknowledged Thailand is in a “precarious situation”, as the nation continues to deal with a high debt ratio and rising household debt.

There is a dire need for a “policy menu for financial recovery” to address the structural obstacles to economic growth and shape a vibrant recovery, said Mr Ekniti.

Furthermore, the International Monetary Fund warned of the need for prudent fiscal policies for long-term stability, while Fitch Ratings noted mounting external headwinds and political uncertainty, leading it to downgrade Thailand’s credit rating outlook to negative from stable last month.

The government is implementing reforms to attract new growth sectors, such as electric vehicles and high-tech manufacturing, aiming to revitalise the economy and address these pressures.

“A failure to make significant progress in the next five years could lead to continued economic struggles and a missed opportunity at future prosperity,” he said.

“Meanwhile, a prolonged period of stagnation could adversely fuel public discontent and social unrest.”

Four Israeli men claiming to be soldiers celebrating peace in the Middle East were arrested while partying with drugs at a luxury villa on Koh Phangan early Tuesday morning.

Police responding to a noise complaint searched the villa in Ban Sri Thanu about 2.40am.

Tourist police said four Israeli men, aged 26-27, were seated in the villa, and appeared to be concealing something. They were found to be sitting on small packets containing 0.59gm of cocaine and 1.37gm of powdered ecstasy.

They told police they were soldiers on vacation and had been partying with 10-15 compatriots in celebration of the end of the Israel-Hamas war. The others had left the party after complaints about the noise.

The four arrested Israelis were taken to Koh Phangan Hospital where they tested positive for cocaine and methamphetamine use.

According to tourist police inspector Pol Lt Col Winit Boonchit, the suspects said they bought the drugs from other Israelis who were at the party. They did not know their names.

The Trump administration is making conflict resolution a condition of US trade negotiations with Thailand, as it pushes the latter to reach a peace agreement with Cambodia.

‘The US has used the border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia to bargain with the government,’ Siripong Angkasakulkiat, a spokesman for Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, told reporters on Tuesday in Bangkok.

Malaysia’s foreign minister said on Tuesday that President Donald Trump would attend the ceremonial signing of a Thailand-Cambodia peace agreement on Oct 26 at the Asean leaders’ summit in Kuala Lumpur.

Washington’s stand is a fresh challenge for the new Thai negotiating team, endorsed by the cabinet on Tuesday and led by Deputy Prime Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas, who is also the finance minister.

With the new US demand, reaching an agreement with Cambodia has become a priority for a government that is seeking to revive the sluggish economy before an election early next year.

Mr Ekniti, along with six other economic ministers, will replace the now-defunct ‘Team Thailand’ of former prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.

The US has imposed 19% tariffs on imports from Thailand, creating major problems for one of the country’s key growth engines. Further negotiations are needed to address issues such as trade circumvention.

Tensions over the disputed border erupted into military clashes between Thailand and Cambodia in July, but a fragile ceasefire was reached after Trump threatened to block trade deals with the countries unless they stopped fighting.

Cambodia subsequently nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in ending the violence, and Trump last week wrote to Mr Anutin urging Thailand to pursue a peaceful resolution to the conflict with Cambodia.

Four key conditions

In order to sign a peace deal, The Thai government has insisted that Cambodia must withdraw troops, remove landmines, crack down on cyber scam operations targeting Thai residents, and resettle Cambodian citizens encroaching on the Thai side of the border, Mr Siripong said.

Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow, who is due to visit Malaysia on Oct 17 ahead of the leaders’ summit, will reiterate the four demands in talks with Cambodia, according to Mr Anutin.

Malaysia, in its capacity as this year’s Asean chair, and the US are looking to facilitate a wider ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia at the summit, according to Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan.

Malaysia hopes that both sides can fulfil the conditions, including landmine clearance and the withdrawal of weapons along the border, and sign a declaration during the summit, Mr Mohamad told reporters in Kuala Lumpur.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said earlier that Trump would attend the meetings but there has been no official confirmation yet from Washington.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but a person familiar with the matter said the trip is being planned.

Mr Siripong told reporters that Bangkok was aware the United States was giving the dispute priority.

‘But what Cambodia has to do first, before we accept the US offer, are our four points that we have raised,’ he said.

Mr Anutin also said Thailand was ready to negotiate if Cambodia withdrew heavy weapons, removed landmines, cracked down on scammers and relocated its citizens from border regions that Thailand considers its own.

Cambodia has said its nationals have lived in the disputed border villages for decades.

Mr Anutin’s remarks came a day after he appeared to brush off a continued role for Trump – who has been chasing a Nobel Peace Prize – in any further negotiations between the two nations aimed at solving the border dispute.

Rice exports are on track to achieve the target of 7.5 million tonnes this year, although the value is anticipated to drop by 40% from last year, says the Thai Rice Exporters Association.

Chookiat Ophaswongse, honorary president of the association, said for the first nine months of this year, Thailand exported more than 5.9 million tonnes of rice, based on export permission data.

He said achieving the annual export goal would require average monthly exports of more than 500,000 tonnes during the final quarter.

If Thailand manages to ship 600,000 tonnes per month during that period, total exports could reach 8 million tonnes.

However, this year’s global rice market is much worse than last year’s, with heightened competition amid abundant supply and decreasing demand, said Mr Chookiat.

Major rice importers in the region such as Indonesia and the Philippines have paused their imports because of sufficient domestic supplies and the need to stabilise local rice markets.

He said the Philippines plans to import 300,000 tonnes of rice in January 2026, then suspend imports for three months from February to April.

These factors have contributed to a decline in rice prices on the global market. Thailand’s 5% white rice is priced at US$340 per tonne, while Myanmar’s rice is $310, Pakistan’s rice $330, India’s grains about $350 and Vietnam’s rice $360.

In the first nine months of this year, Vietnam exported 6.8 million tonnes of rice and India 18 million tonnes.

“Thailand is the world’s third-largest rice exporter. India is expected to export 22-23 million tonnes and Vietnam about 8.5 million tonnes this year,” said Mr Chookiat.

He anticipated Thai rice prices would settle around $340 per tonne this year, falling from an average of $500 per tonne in 2024.

Thailand’s export volume is projected to decrease from 9.9 million tonnes last year, with the export value dropping by about 40% year-on-year.

Mr Chookiat said exports of Thai hom mali rice and parboiled rice continue to perform well this year.

Demand for Thai hom mali rice in the US market has been particularly strong, as buyers rushed to stock up amid concerns over potential impacts from the Trump tariffs, he said.

The US imports around 830,000 tonnes of rice from Thailand annually, with 650,000 tonnes of that hom mali.

In 2024, Thailand exported 9.95 million tonnes of rice, up 13% year-on-year, generating 226 billion baht (roughly $6.43 billion), an increase of 27%.

Mr Chookiat said government efforts to stabilise rice prices are struggling due to a global market downturn.

During price declines, he said importing countries tend to purchase only what is necessary.

“Global rice prices have fallen sharply. The Philippines even banned rice imports to prevent domestic prices from collapsing,” said Mr Chookiat.

“Next year, there seems to be no positive factors for Thailand’s rice market, as favourable rainfall conditions in major producing countries such as Thailand, Myanmar and even Cambodia have resulted in good water supplies.”

The ruling Bhumjaithai (BJT) Party has insisted the coalition draft is likely to be the main frame of reference for amending the charter, while reiterating that changes to the pillar Chapters 1 and 2 will be off-limits.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on Monday chaired a meeting of coalition partners to prepare for the two-day parliamentary debate on Tuesday and on Wednesday over proposed constitutional amendments.

Emerging from the meeting, Mr Anutin said the session was routine coordination ahead of parliament’s debate on three amendment drafts — proposed by the government coalition, the opposition Pheu Thai Party, and the People’s Party (PP).

“Our stance is clear. We will not touch Chapters 1 and 2,” he said, referring to sections on the form of the state and the monarchy.

He expressed hope that the constitutional amendment process would pass all three readings.

“We want to see the amendments advance constructively through parliamentary mechanisms,” he said. Asked about the government’s short tenure and whether it could complete the process, Mr Anutin said, “Even if it isn’t completed, at least we’ve started it and laid the foundation for reform.”

The prime minister also dismissed speculation that the government had lobbied senators for support. “No one has been sounded out. Everything will proceed transparently through parliamentary channels,” he said.

Meanwhile, Senator Wutthipong Pongsuwan predicted all three amendment drafts — from BJT, Pheu Thai, and the PP — would likely pass the first reading. “From what I’ve seen, most senators want to avoid political complications and will support all drafts moving forward,” he said.