Banyuwangi Regency Develops Sport Tourism through BIG Downhill Event
The Banyuwangi Regency Government, East Java, is boosting the development of sport tourism as part of the local tourism sector, including hosting the Banyuwangi Ijen Geopark (BIG) Downhill championship on 19-20 September 2026.
The Regent of Banyuwangi, Ipuk Fiestiandani, stated that the local government is committed to developing sport tourism through downhill mountain biking championships. Other scheduled events include Push Bike for preschool children, BMX, and Gravel racing, which is set to take place this coming October.
“The presence of athletes and tourists certainly helps drive the local economy, especially for MSME players,” said Regent Ipuk in Banyuwangi on Sunday.
On this occasion, she presented medals to the winners of the 2026 Banyuwangi Ijen Geopark Downhill championship and expressed her appreciation for the smooth running of the event.
“Congratulations to the winners, and thank you to the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), all athletes, officials, organisers, sponsors, communities, volunteers, medical teams, security forces, marshals, and the community who have supported the BIG Downhill event,” said Ipuk.
The Chairperson of the BIG Downhill 2026 Organising Committee, Munif, noted that this event has entered its seventh year and consistently remains an official UCI agenda. In the last three years, the competition level has even achieved UCI Class 1 (C1) status.
“The economic impact is very palpable; accommodation (homestays) in the surrounding areas up to the Glagah region are fully booked. The demand for food and souvenirs by participants also rotates the local community’s economy. We hope the event grows even larger and more festive in the future,” he said.
A total of 216 cyclists from various regions across Indonesia competed in the 2026 Banyuwangi Ijen Geopark (BIG) Downhill championship held at Gantasan Bike Park, Licin District.
The hundreds of riders arrived from East Java, Bali, Jepara, Solo, Salatiga, Yogyakarta, Cilacap, Bekasi, Jakarta, Bandung, Poso, and Mataram.
After all riders participated in the qualification sessions on the first day to determine starting positions, the intense competition continued into the final rounds on Sunday (20/9).
Participants had to navigate an extreme 2.3-kilometre track featuring challenges such as climbs, steep descents, sharp turns, rocks, tree drops, wooden wallrides, super bowls, and big drops.