Menpora: Sport tourism promotes public health and economic growth

Youth and Sports Minister (Menpora) Erick Thohir stated that sport tourism, such as the Mandiri Jogja Marathon 2026 held in the Prambanan Temple area of Yogyakarta, not only makes the public healthier but also drives economic growth. “Sport tourism not only makes people healthier, but also drives economic growth,” said the Minister when releasing participants of the Mandiri Jogja Marathon (MJM) 2026 at the Prambanan Temple complex in Yogyakarta on Sunday. The Minister assessed that Yogyakarta possesses significant capital to further strengthen its position as a premier tourist destination through the development of sport tourism. The combination of natural beauty, cultural richness, and the quality of event organisation is a strength capable of attracting more domestic and international tourists. “With the cultural strength and destinations that Yogyakarta has, activities like this can become a lever for tourist visits while creating new sources of economic growth,” said the Minister. Bank Mandiri Vice President Director Henry Panjaitan said the MJM is designed not only to provide the best experience for runners but also to deliver tangible benefits to the surrounding community through various social programmes and economic empowerment. “We want to ensure the benefits of this event are felt by the local community. Not only do the runners get the best experience, but MSMEs, surrounding villages, and the local economy also grow together,” he said. Approximately 10,200 runners from 17 countries took part in this world-class sport tourism event, making it the largest number of participants since the event was first held in 2017. Participants traversed a course certified by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS), passing through various typical Yogyakarta landscapes, from the Plaosan Temple area, the Taruna Monument, expanses of rice fields, to traditional villages with their local culture. Meanwhile, the Head of the Yogyakarta Special Region (DIY) Tourism Office, Imam Pratanadi, said the Mandiri Jogja Marathon has developed into an effective regional promotional showcase. According to him, the event’s thousands of participants and their companions have boosted hotel occupancy rates, visits to tourist destinations, culinary activities, and transactions of micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) products. “MJM establishes DIY as a premier sport tourism destination. This event is able to increase tourist visits, extend tourists’ length of stay, and drive economic turnover whose benefits are widely felt by the community,” he said. These economic benefits align with research results from the Mandiri Institute showing that the organisation of MJM 2025 boosted public spending growth by up to 11.6 per cent during the event week. With the increase in participants this year, he said, the resulting economic impact is expected to be even greater, especially for the hospitality, transportation, culinary, tourism services, and MSME sectors.