Marathon-Trail Running Craze: Each Destination in Bali Expected to Host Events in Rotation
International running sports events, both on roads (marathons) and in mountainous areas (trail runs), are currently trending in Bali. Following the Bali Trail Run Ultra 2026, each tourist destination in Bali is expected to host similar events in rotation.
“This tourism attraction will take turns hosting running events like this,” said the Head of the Bali Tourism Office, I Wayan Sumarajaya, after leading the flag-off for participants in the Bali Trail Run Ultra 2026, 7K category, at Batur Natural Hot Spring, Kintamani, Bangli, Sunday (17/6/2026).
Sumarajaya said that the trend of road and cross-country running sports is not only popular among Indonesian people but also internationally.
With many running sports events being held, this will have a positive impact on tourism in each tourist destination. In addition, the tourism climate in Bali will become even more popular.
“We are utilising this for tourism in Bali. But we must not only focus on quantity; quality must still be maintained,” said Sumarajaya.
Sumarajaya said that one of the impacts of these events is increased regional revenue. With international running sports events, many foreign visitors will come to Bali.
This will further increase regional revenue from tourist levies. However, there are no targets or calculations on how much potential revenue can be generated from international running sports events held in Bali.
“We hope that tourist levies will increase with the holding of international events like this. But, the process is still being refined and continuously promoted because Bali is still a favourite and world-class tourist destination,” he said.
Previously, the Governor of Bali, Wayan Koster, wanted to hold international-level sports events once a month on the Island of Gods. Koster believes that these international-scale activities will have an impact on increasing hotel occupancy and attracting groups of participants from various countries to visit tourist destinations.