The Makassar Tourism Polytechnic (Poltekpar) is once again holding its annual running event entitled “Run Tourism”, a sport tourism activity designed to combine sporting activities with the promotion of local tourism. This event is held to commemorate the 34th anniversary of the Makassar Tourism Polytechnic. Through the Run Tourism event, the Makassar Tourism Polytechnic not only marks its long journey as a vocational higher education institution in the field of tourism, but also invites the community to celebrate a healthy lifestyle, togetherness, and increase their love for Indonesian tourism.
Run Tourism 2025 will be held on Sunday, 21 September 2025. The event will start and finish at the Makassar Tourism Polytechnic campus. This event is not only an annual tradition of the Makassar Tourism Polytechnic, but also a forum for collaboration between students, tourism industry players and the community in supporting the development of sustainable events.
Through this sport tourism activity, the promotion of local tourist destinations is packaged in a healthy and enjoyable way, while strengthening the relationship between the academic community and industry partners and the general public. Run Tourism also contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 3 on good health and well-being. As such, this activity holds dual significance: it serves as a celebration of the university’s anniversary while also representing tangible support for sustainable tourism development.
In his speech before sending off the participants, Director of Poltekpar Makassar Dr. Herry Rachmat Widjaja emphasised that this activity aimed to introduce four beach destinations in Makassar City as part of the Ministry of Tourism’s tourism promotion programme. “This programme takes place at tourist destinations around the Makassar City Tourism Polytechnic Campus, featuring four beaches: Layar Putih Beach, Tanjung Merdeka, Tanjung Bayang, and Biru Beach. The concept of this year’s Run Tourism event is certainly different from previous years. The challenge of navigating varied routes offers its own form of entertainment for participants,” he stated during the launch of Run Tourism 2025 in Makassar on Sunday.
The flag-off ceremony was led by Martini Mohamad Paham, Deputy for Resources and Institutions at the Ministry of Tourism, together with the Director of Poltekpar Makassar, Dr Herry Rachmat Widajaja. The release of participants began with the 10K category, followed by the 6K category. The procession was filled with excitement, accompanied by cheers of support from the spectators who witnessed the release.
With the theme “Born to Bond” and the tagline “Explore, Connect, Celebrate,” Run Tourism 2025 presents the concept of a Semi Trail Run that combines asphalt tracks and coastal trails. The running route is designed to provide participants with a unique experience while enjoying the natural beauty of the Makassar coastline. This concept sets it apart from previous editions and offers a challenging yet enjoyable running experience.
This event targets the participation of 1,500 participants consisting of academics, stakeholders, and the general public. Two running categories are offered, namely 6K and 10K. Registration is free, so it is open to anyone who wants to participate and experience running while enjoying the natural panorama of Makassar. High enthusiasm from the community is expected to further strengthen the position of Run Tourism as an annual event that is eagerly awaited.
The excitement of Run Tourism comes not only from the running track, but also through musical entertainment, performances by local musicians, and Zumba sessions with professional instructors. These additional programmes create a lively atmosphere and provide a refreshing experience for participants. The organising committee has also prepared various attractive door prizes as a token of appreciation, ranging from electronic devices, airline tickets, bicycles, to hotel vouchers, in addition to cash prizes of millions of rupiah for the top three runners in each category. As the highlight of the event, the top runners from each category will receive awards on the podium, symbolising appreciation, sportsmanship, and camaraderie in Run Tourism 2025.