Jakarta once again witnessed the growth of sports-based tourism development, or sport tourism, through the Senior Happy Run 5K 2026 event. Organized by the Tourism Pensioners Association (Parapenspar), the event successfully drew the enthusiasm of around 1,000 participants aged 50 and above, who gathered in the courtyard of the Ministry of Tourism Office in Jakarta on Sunday (12/7).
The Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia expressed high appreciation for this initiative. Vinsensius Jemandu, Principal Adyatama of Tourism and Creative Economy at the Ministry of Tourism, considers these retirees to hold a strategic role as tourism ambassadors. Their active involvement in sports activities is expected to serve as a catalyst for promoting the five Super Priority Tourism Destinations (DPSP) across the nation.
"We hope this spirit can spread to the other five super priority destinations. Moving forward, we aim to organize similar events at each destination to further strengthen the national sport tourism ecosystem," said Vinsensius while directly reviewing the event.
On the other hand, the Advisory Board of Parapenspar, Sapta Nirwandar, emphasized that this event is not just a typical running competition. The main focus of the event themed "Healthy & Happiness" is to provide a space for socialization as well as maintaining physical health for senior citizens who have a long career experience.
The Chief Organizer of the Senior Happy Run, Oni Yulfian, added that this competition was designed with a creative approach. In addition to the speed category to reach the podium, participants were also invited to express themselves through traditional costumes representing the five super priority destinations, namely Toba, Borobudur, Mandalika, Likupang, and Labuan Bajo. This step proved effective in simultaneously blending elements of health, recreation, and destination promotion.
