Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – The Kuala Lumpur Standard Chartered Marathon (KLSCM) is set to make history this year as it welcomes its largest contingent of running tourists yet. With over 2,500 runners from 45 different countries participating, the event is experiencing a 72% increase in international participation compared to 2023.
Indonesia, in particular, is leading the charge with over 1,200 runners making their way to Kuala Lumpur, more than double the number of Indonesian participants in the previous year. This surge in popularity can be attributed to the growing trend of running in Indonesia, fueled by the influence of social media.
Runners from Indonesia are drawn to KLSCM for its proximity, connectivity, and affordable costs. Many combine their running adventure with a vacation, exploring Kuala Lumpur’s tourist attractions and shopping scene.
Among the Indonesian runners participating in KLSCM 2024 are seasoned marathoners like Yudha Mega Kusumonegoro, who has previously secured top-five finishes in the Full Marathon Veteran Open category. Returning participants like Hizkia Tri Hananto and Suyanti are also excited to experience the event’s lively atmosphere and well-organized nature.
Dirigo Events, the organizers of KLSCM, are thrilled with the increasing international interest in the event. “Our efforts to promote KLSCM to an international audience have paid off,” said Rainer Biemans, project director of KLSCM. “International runners bring significant tourism revenue to the city, benefiting businesses and contributing to Kuala Lumpur’s vibrant atmosphere.”
The Rise of Running Tourism in Indonesia
The growing popularity of running in Indonesia has been a significant factor in driving the increase in international participation at KLSCM. Social media platforms have played a crucial role in promoting running as a lifestyle and inspiring individuals to take up the sport.
Hizkia Tri Hananto, a 45-year-old team leader at a multinational manufacturing company in Batam, agrees that social media has been influential in driving participation numbers up. “Lately, running has become very popular in Indonesia, and I believe social media has been very influential in driving this increase,” said Hizkia.
Yudha Mega Kusumonegoro, from Jakarta, also attributes the increase in Indonesian runners to social media. “Running is more popular in Indonesia now, especially when social media influencers post their running activities,” he said. “Last year I happened to meet a group of runners from the Eastern part of Indonesia (Sulawesi) which was unusual as I used to only meet runners from Medan and Jakarta previously.”
Suyanti, 32, who hails from Tanjung Pinang, believes that Indonesian running groups play a big role in fueling the popularity of running and the increased participation in events like KLSCM. “Most Indonesian runners are usually part of a running group, of which there are many here,” she said. “If someone from a group signs up for an event, chances are high that others would follow.”
Kuala Lumpur: A Convenient Destination for Indonesian Runners
For Indonesian runners seeking a runcation (traveling for a holiday while participating in a running event), Kuala Lumpur is an obvious choice due to its proximity, connectivity, and costs. For Francis Sukardono, a 46-year-old Oil & Gas inspector from Batam who will be participating in KLSCM for the first time, these factors played a big part in influencing his decision to sign up for Malaysia’s largest distance running event.
“Kuala Lumpur is not too far from Indonesia, especially Batam,” said Francis. “The costs of flights from Jakarta to Kuala Lumpur is also not expensive, and accommodation in Malaysia is still reasonably priced.”
Hizkia agreed with Francis regarding distance and costs being significant factors to the influx of running tourists from Indonesia. “Many people are looking for domestic or international running events and Malaysia is a good choice because of its proximity to Indonesia, with ease of transportation at reasonable prices for traveling or vacations,” he said.
Returning Participants Share Their Experiences
Compared to Francis, Hizkia, Yudha, and Suyanti have participated in KLSCM before. In fact, Yudha has taken part in five previous editions and has had extremely successful outings in 2018 and 2019 when he secured 4th and 5th spots in the Full Marathon Veteran Open category. “I’ve been happy with my previous performances but I don’t have a specific target this time,” he said. “I just want to enjoy the race.”
Hizkia, on the other hand, will be making his second appearance at KLSCM after taking part for the first time last year. “I initially took part last year for the convenience since Malaysia was close to Batam but I am returning this year because I found the event to be well organized with a very lively atmosphere,” he said. Suyanti will also be making her second appearance at KLSCM after participating last year. “I signed up last year because I wanted to try running in another country and Malaysia would be the most convenient but after experiencing the euphoria of the event last year, I can’ wait to come back for more,” said Suyanti.
Beyond Running: Exploring Kuala Lumpur
Most running tourists usually bring their families along and extend their visit when they come to Kuala Lumpur, using the opportunity to do some shopping and visit some tourist attractions within the city or in other parts of Malaysia. Indonesian runners are no different. Both Hizkia and Yudha will be coming with families in tow and plan to spend at least five days in Kuala Lumpur.
“I prefer to come with my family because we can enjoy a holiday at the same time,” said Hizkia. “In fact, one of the main reasons for participating in KLSCM is so that my family and I can do some shopping and traveling.”
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Francis, on the other hand, will be traveling with a group of runners and although he only plans to be in Kuala Lumpur for three days, he is still keen on getting some shopping done. “This is my first time for KLSCM but although I won’t be staying in Kuala Lumpur for long, I’m still keen on looking for running gear and I’m pretty excited to check out KLSCM’s Active Lifestyle Expo, where I heard you can get some pretty good deals,” he said.
Dirigo Events: Driving International Participation
Dirigo Events, the owners and organizers of KLSCM, are pleased that their efforts to attract more running tourists are starting to bear fruit. “In the last couple of years, we have made a conscious effort to promote our event to an international audience using targeted social media advertising and we’re delighted with the increase in these numbers for KLSCM 2024,” said Rainer Biemans, project director of KLSCM and director of Dirigo Events. “International runners tend to spend more time on vacation when they visit Kuala Lumpur and this translates to increased revenue from tourism, benefiting businesses around the city,” added Biemans.
