The Governor of East Java, Khofifah Indar Parawansa, officially flagged off thousands of participants of the MANTRA116 2026 International Trail Running at Kaliandra Eco Resort, Prigen, Pasuruan, on Sunday (5/7). This annual event is the highlight of a series of prestigious mountain running competitions that have been taking place for three days in the Raden Soerjo Grand Forest Park (Tahura) area, Arjuno-Welirang Mountains.
On the closing day, a total of 1,750 runners took part in the 17-kilometer and 10-kilometer categories. Overall, the 10th edition of MANTRA116 recorded the participation of 4,015 runners from 29 provinces in Indonesia and 21 friendly countries, including Australia, Japan, and the United States. The high enthusiasm of international participants is seen as proof of the world's increasing trust in the quality of sports events organized in East Java.
Governor Khofifah emphasized that the Arjuno-Welirang mountain area, which is also part of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, has high selling value as a world-class sports tourism destination. She hopes that the integration of adrenaline-pumping physical challenges with a preserved natural ecosystem can be the main attraction for foreign tourists to visit East Java again.
In addition to providing a positive image, hosting MANTRA116 has also proven to provide economic stimulus for the local community. The presence of thousands of participants and companions during the race has boosted productivity in the hospitality, transportation, culinary sectors, as well as MSMEs around the event location in Pasuruan and surrounding areas.
On the other hand, the event, which has been recognized by the International Trail Running Association (ITRA) and UTMB Index, continues to prioritize environmental preservation principles. Governor Khofifah reminded that sports that come into direct contact with nature must be accompanied by a commitment to maintaining the preservation of forests so that they remain sustainable for future generations.
