Geopark Run Series 2026–2027: A New Way to Explore Locations Spanning from Ijen to Belitong While Running

Ministry of Tourism (Kemenpar) is working to strengthen quality sports-based tourism programs through the Geopark Run Series 2026-2027. This race series will invite thousands of participants to traverse four of Indonesia's flagship geopark regions while discovering the geological wealth, culture, and daily life of local communities.

"The Geopark Run Series brings a concept that integrates running sports, promotion of Indonesia's geopark destinations, as well as Community Empowerment for surrounding populations, guided by the spirit of inclusivity and sustainability. This is a concrete step to strengthen the development of Sports Tourism in Indonesia," stated Minister of Tourism Widiyanti Putri Wardhana during a press conference in Jakarta.

In recent years, sports tourism has grown into one of the fastest growing sectors in the global travel industry.

The Ministry of Tourism assesses that this trend opens major opportunities for Indonesia, especially as sports tourists are known to have longer stay durations and higher spending levels compared to regular tourists.

According to UN Tourism data, sports tourism accounts for approximately 10 percent of total global tourism expenditure, and is projected to grow by up to 17.5 percent over the 2023–2030 period.

This trend is further supported by an Expedia survey which shows that 44 percent of tourists are willing to travel abroad specifically to attend their favorite sporting events.

The Geopark Run Series will be held across four geopark regions that have become icons of Indonesia's natural landscapes.

The first series will kick off with the Ijen Geopark Run on 23 August 2026, located in the Ijen region and Banyuwangi City, East Java.

Following this, the Minangkabau Geopark Run will take place on 25 October 2026 around Jam Gadang, one of West Sumatra's cultural landmarks.

In early 2027, runners will be invited to experience Java's southern coastline through the Ciletuh Geopark Run at Palangpang Beach, Sukabumi.

The closing series will be held on 18 April 2027 with the Belitong Geopark Run at Tanjung Kalayang Beach, an area famous for its Giant Granite Rocks and the clear blue seas characteristic of the Bangka Belitung Islands.

These four locations were selected not only to provide exotic running routes, but also to support the retained UNESCO Global Geoparks status held by each of these regions.

This event is expected to reinforce the global identity of Indonesia's geoparks among international tourists, while opening up new economic opportunities for local surrounding communities.

Ihsan Ramadhi Putra, Chief Executive of the Geopark Run Series, stated that this event was designed as a collective movement, going far beyond a mere sports competition.

"Geopark Run is not just a running event. This is a shared movement to bring people to come see, experience, and ultimately help drive the local economy," he said.

Organizers are targeting a minimum of 10,000 participants to take part in the full 2026–2027 Geopark Run Series lineup.

Through the combination of sport, natural landscapes, and local cultural experiences, Indonesia is seeking to present a new face of tourism. Destinations are not merely places to visit — they are experiences to be felt deeply.