Geopark Run Series Launched, Irman Gusman Pushes Sport Tourism to Become a Regional Economic Engine

23 May 2026 oleh admin

Jakarta, Dpd.go.id - West Sumatra Senator Irman Gusman is pushing for the development of sport tourism as a strategy to boost the competitiveness of national tourism. According to him, the concept of sports-based travel is no longer just a trend, but has evolved into an important instrument for driving more equitable economic growth. He shared this perspective while attending the launch of the Geopark Run Series at the Sapta Pesona Building, Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia, Jakarta, on Friday (May 22).

The former two-term Speaker of the House of Regional Representatives of Republic of Indonesia (DPD RI) stated that the launch of the Geopark Run Series which involves 4 regions and was attended directly by the Minister of Tourism, several regional heads, sponsors from several national banks, and media partners is not merely about hosting a running event. Instead, it is a crucial momentum to build a quality and sustainable tourism ecosystem that delivers a direct impact on local communities.

According to him, the tourism sector has undergone a fundamental shift in its role. Tourism is no longer positioned as a complementary sector, but has transformed into a new domestic engine of growth targeted to contribute directly to national economic growth.

He explained that sport tourism is not just a passing trend, but one of the fastest-growing segments of the tourism industry in the world. Various industry projections show that this sector grows by about 17.5 percent annually and is estimated to account for more than 10 percent of global tourism spending. Therefore, according to Irman, Indonesia must be more serious about building sports-based events capable of creating a direct economic impact in the regions.

The Chairman of the Expert Council for MSME Economics of the Central Board of Muhammadiyah (PP Muhammadiyah) then praised the achievements of Indonesia's tourism sector, which successfully recorded its highest foreign exchange earnings in history at Rp305.47 trillion. According to him, this achievement proves that tourism holds a strategic position in supporting the national economy, especially with the tourism foreign exchange target for 2026 set at 39.4 billion US dollars.

Beyond its economic impact, Irman believes that the Geopark Run Series also holds strategic value in building environmental awareness and preserving geological heritage (geo-heritage), particularly among the younger generation. The collaboration between sports, tourism, and environmental education, in his view, serves as a future tourism development model that needs to be expanded. Irman Gusman hopes that the launch of the Geopark Run Series will be an initial step to promote Indonesia's geopark destinations to a wider audience, while simultaneously strengthening the community economy in various regions.

"Regional tourism must level up. If managed seriously and collaboratively, this sector can become the main driver of the community's economy while strengthening the nation's economic resilience," Irman Gusman concluded.