Sports Tourism: The New Face of Indonesian Tourism

Sports tourism is emerging as a new trend in Indonesia’s tourism industry. Tourists become participants or spectators of sports events, creating unique and meaningful experiences. According to data, from 2022 to 2024, the number of local tourists engaged in sports tourism rose from 4.06% to 5.93%. This development brings economic benefits, including increased revenues for small businesses during events.

Key drivers of increasing interest in sports tourism are the growing awareness of health post-COVID-19 and the popularity of an active lifestyle, especially among the young crowd. Generation Z and young millennials prefer physical activities like running, walking, and weightlifting, becoming a driving force for the sports tourism industry.

Events like the Borobudur Marathon attract numerous participants, fostering community development and economic growth through increased tourism and higher incomes for local traders and hotels. At the same time, sports tourism creates positive place branding and supports sustainable tourism development.