Soekarno Run BWX: A New Way to Experience Banyuwangi Through Sports Tourism

Banyuwangi offers more than just beaches, natural landscapes, and cultural heritage as reasons to visit. On Sunday 20 September 2026, this city at the eastern tip of East Java will also host thousands of runners for the Soekarno Run BWX: a sporting event designed to drive the development of sport tourism across East Java.

The Soekarno Run BWX carries a broader vision. This running event is framed as a medium that unites sports, tourism, history, culture, and local community economic activity all at once.

Said Abdullah, Chairman of the East Java Regional Leadership Council (DPD) of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), explained that running was selected for this event due to its close alignment with the struggle values of Indonesia's first president Sukarno, popularly known as Bung Karno.

"There is courage, persistence, unity, and an unyielding spirit. These values must be continuously passed down to younger generations through positive activities that engage the wider public," Said stated in an official release received in Jakarta on Saturday.

According to Said, running carries strong symbolic meaning: every participant must keep moving forward, maintain endurance, and push to reach the finish line relying only on their own ability. This spirit is intended to represent the enduring flame of Bung Karno's struggle, carried forward from one generation to the next.

As an additional draw, Banyuwangi itself becomes a core part of the participant experience, as the race route is designed to pass through a number of historic and scenic locations including Marina Boom Beach.

This route design turns the run into an alternative way to experience Banyuwangi. Participants are not only racing against the clock, but also get to exercise while immersed in the distinctive destination character that forms one of Banyuwangi's greatest tourism strengths.

Public interest in running continues to grow, particularly among young people. Strava data shows global running club participation rose by 59 percent in 2024, while Indonesia recorded an even higher growth rate of 83 percent.

This trend demonstrates how running has evolved far beyond an individual activity, into a space for building community and social connection.

Strava's report also notes that group sports play an increasingly important role in bringing people together and fostering social bonds.

"This shows that sport, and running in particular, has become part of a healthy lifestyle as well as a space for young people to build social interactions," he added.

This growing trend is one of the core contexts behind the organisation of the Soekarno Run BWX.

By bringing together participants from all backgrounds, this running event is not positioned solely as a competition. It is also designed as an activity that can bring communities together in an open, welcoming atmosphere.

Said expressed hope that the arrival of thousands of participants in Banyuwangi will deliver tangible economic impacts for local residents. Large scale sporting events never end at the race track alone.

Participants and visiting supporters will require accommodation, transport, food and beverages, sports equipment, and a range of other services during their stay in the host region.

This full chain of demand creates opportunities for local business owners to benefit from the economic activity generated by the sporting event.

"We do not want the Soekarno Run to only exist as a running competition. We want it to deliver real, meaningful benefits for the people and the region that hosts this event," Said stated.

Banyuwangi is considered to have strong foundational assets to support this concept. Its wealth of tourist destinations, cultural heritage, and historical sites can enrich the participant experience both before and after they take part in the race.

The Soekarno Run BWX sits at the intersection of three core experiences: physical exercise, tourism, and meaningful interaction with local communities.

With this model, sport tourism does not merely bring participants in to compete. It creates opportunities for visitors to stay longer and properly get to know the surrounding destination.

Community inclusivity is also built into the event's core concept. The Soekarno Run BWX is open to people from all walks of life, not just professional athletes and experienced runners.

"We have also prepared a dedicated race category for students," he confirmed.

The event will also feature a number of notable Indonesian runners, including Ricky Martin Simbolon, Daniel Simanjuntak and Immanuel Hutasoit.

The Soekarno Run BWX will award a total prize pool of IDR 1 billion. Organisers have positioned this event as one part of a broader series of activities hosted by the East Java DPD PDI Perjuangan, running through until November.

Ultimately, the Soekarno Run BWX is about far more than just who crosses the finish line fastest. On the roads of Banyuwangi, every step the runners take is also guiding them closer to the region's natural landscapes, local community life, and the creative economic potential of the area.