Nusa Penida fun run draws 112 participants in tourism push

Nusa Penida — — A 5-kilometre fun run in Nusa Penida drew 112 participants on Saturday, 19 September 2026, in an event organised to promote the island through sport tourism, according to local government and regional media reports.

The run, titled Run, Connect, Experience, was held at Amarta Penida in Desa Sakti, with the start and finish line at the restaurant there, according to the Klungkung regency government and RRI. Klungkung Regent I Made Satria opened the event as part of the Locatide Festival 2026 programme.

Participants ranged from children to adults, and organisers routed them along village roads that showcased Nusa Penida’s natural scenery, according to the same reports. Satria said the event was intended to let participants enjoy the island’s landscape while helping introduce tourism potential beyond its best-known attractions.

The regent also framed the run as part of a broader effort to strengthen Nusa Penida’s profile as a destination and encourage longer visitor stays, according to the reports. Local government coverage said the activity was one of the festival’s tourism-promotion efforts rather than a standalone sporting event.

Both sources said the event was held during Locatide Festival 2026, but neither provided information on visitor numbers generated by the run, overnight stays, or any direct tourism impact. They also did not mention road closures, traffic diversions or safety arrangements.

Promoting sport tourism

Sport tourism has become a recurring promotional theme in Nusa Penida, where officials have been trying to widen the island’s appeal beyond sightseeing and beach visits. Saturday’s fun run was presented as a way to connect physical activity with destination branding, according to the reports.

The event’s scale was modest, but its message was clear: Nusa Penida wants visitors to experience more of the island than its most famous viewpoints. The run was positioned as one of the festival’s community-facing events and as part of the regency’s broader tourism strategy.

Local authorities said the programme should continue in future years, although neither source provided a formal announcement of a repeat edition or a detailed long-term tourism plan.

Sources

• RRI.co.id
• Klungkung Regency Government