A total of 4,014 runners from 22 countries across continents gathered on the slopes of Mount Arjuno-Welirang, Prigen District, Pasuruan Regency, to take part in the Malang Trail Runners (Mantra) 116 held on July 3-5, 2026. This prestigious trail running event returns after a one-year hiatus due to the pandemic, offering six distance categories ranging from 10 kilometers to 116 kilometers.
This year's participants were presented with a new challenge via the Lincing trail, a route specifically designed to refresh the competitive experience while remaining challenging and engaging for runners. This trail runs through the Raden Soerjo Grand Forest Park (Tahura) conservation area, where organizers and forest management are fully committed to preserving the endemic flora and fauna of the region.
East Java Governor, Khofifah Indar Parawansa, expressed high appreciation for the event. According to her, Mantra 116 is not just a sports competition, but a strategic instrument to drive the local economy through the hospitality, transportation, and culinary sectors. She emphasized that synergy between tourism and environmental conservation is key to sustainable creative investment.
Echoing this sentiment, Head of the East Java Provincial Culture and Tourism Office, Evy Afianasari, stated that tourist contributions through *sport tourism* events are highly significant. She noted that around 30 percent of tourists visit East Java due to national and international events, which directly impacts the increase in Regional Original Income (PAD).
The East Java Provincial Government, through the Forestry Office, also continues to ensure that the use of conservation areas for sports events remains aligned with the Jatim Lestari program. In the future, the government plans to expand the running routes into the network of tourism villages at the foot of the mountain, ensuring an equitable distribution of economic benefits down to rural communities.
