Indonesian Minister of Youth and Sports Erick Thohir said that holding a running competition that combines sports and cultural tourism experiences is a strategic effort to strengthen sports tourism and boost the regional economy in Indonesia.
The Minister of Youth and Sports made this statement at the opening of the 2026 Mandiri Jogja Marathon in the Prambanan Temple area on Sunday. According to the Minister, organizing this sports tourism event is one way to improve the region's tourism ranking.
"The Mandiri Jogja Marathon is very positive because Yogyakarta is a tourism hub. I look at the rankings for international tourist visits, and it's still ranked fourth, with Bali ranked third," Erick said in a written statement.
According to the Minister of Youth and Sports, in addition to promoting tourism based on culture and natural beauty, it is also necessary to encourage the implementation of sports tourism events.
Therefore, the Minister of Youth and Sports specifically expressed his appreciation for the organization of the Mandiri Jogja Marathon, which this year is entering its seventh edition.
Moreover, there has been a significant increase in the number of runners at the Mandiri Jogja Marathon from year to year, with this year's number of participants reaching a record 10,200 runners from 17 countries.
"So, this event is very positive. And I believe sports tourism not only keeps our society healthy but also contributes to economic growth, which the President is currently pushing hard for," said the Minister of Youth and Sports.
"That's why it's necessary to develop new economic sectors, one of which is sports tourism like this."
