Indonesia is boosting sports tourism and promoting its "geological economy."

Indonesia is accelerating its strategy to develop sports tourism as a new driver for local economic growth and national image promotion, through the “Geopark Run Series 2026-2027” event series which will take place in the country's four leading geoparks.

Indonesian Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana said on May 23 that the running series is not just a purely sporting activity but also combines promoting geological heritage, fostering sustainable tourism, and creating additional livelihoods for local communities.

According to Ms. Widiyanti, Indonesia is moving towards a development model of "experiential tourism " linked to nature, health, and local culture, in the context of global tourism trends increasingly prioritizing outdoor activities and green destinations.

The Geopark Run Series will take place from August 2026 to April 2027 in four renowned geopark areas: Ijen, Minang, Ciletuh, and Belitong — all recognized as Global Geoparks by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Jakarta expects the event to attract at least 10,000 athletes and tourists, thereby stimulating demand for accommodation, services, transportation, food, and consumer goods in the host localities.

Analysts believe Indonesia is clearly capitalizing on the trend of sports tourism – a sector that the World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism) estimates currently contributes about 10% of total global tourism spending and is expected to grow very rapidly in the next decade.

Notably, the selection of geoparks as venues reflects Indonesia's new strategy in developing a "geo-economy," transforming unique natural resources and landscapes into high-value tourism products instead of simply exploiting resources in traditional ways.

Indonesia's geoparks are renowned not only for their volcanic landscapes, islands, and tropical ecosystems, but also for their connection to indigenous communities, local cultures, and unique biodiversity.

Therefore, the Indonesian government expects the series of races to create a strong international promotional effect, helping to enhance the position of destinations on the global tourism map.

In addition to boosting tourism, the program also aims to develop the local economy by promoting small businesses, handicrafts, local cuisine, and services for tourists.

In recent years, Indonesia has consistently expanded its strategy of developing a sustainable marine economy and tourism industry to reduce its dependence on mining and raw material exports.

The integration of sports, ecology, and geological heritage is seen as part of an effort to build a more value-added and environmentally friendly tourism industry in the long term.

(VNA/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/indonesia-day-manh-du-lich-the-thao-quang-ba-kinh-te-dia-chat-post1112192.vnp