RRI.CO.ID, Badung - The Indonesian Ministry of Tourism has designated sport tourism, particularly marine-based athletic events, as a top-tier national priority to stimulate diverse economic sectors across regional communities.

The strategic shift aims to capitalize on high-spending athletic delegations to generate direct financial benefits for local businesses and small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

“Sport tourism moves the community's economy, including MSMEs,” Ministry of Tourism's Assistant Deputy for National Events, Ni Komang Ayu Astiti, said on the sidelines of the 12th Asian Open Water Swimming (OWS) Championship 2026 in Jimbaran, Badung Regency, West Java, on Friday, June 12, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

Astiti explained that combining sports with tourism is highly effective at attracting quality international travelers. These visitors typically yield higher average spending profiles, dispersing capital across local lodging, transport, dining, and specialized wellness services like traditional spa treatments, which in turn boosts the local job market.

Furthermore, sport tourism drastically extends the average length of stay for visitors. While a standard sports competition may only last two to three days, athletes and their accompanying delegations usually arrive several days prior to acclimatize and frequently extend their stay afterward for recreational leisure.

The economic potential of this strategy is currently on display at the 12th Asian Open Water Swimming Championship, hosted along the pristine coastline of the InterContinental Bali Resort in Jimbaran Bay from June 13 to June 15, 2026.

The high-profile event has drawn a substantial international footprint, featuring 78 elite athletes and 49 technical officials, culminating in a core delegation of 127 individuals hailing from 18 different countries.

In addition to the professional brackets, which include grueling 5-to-10-kilometer swims and a 4x1.5-kilometer relay, the annual event runs in tandem with the A Stream OWS Series. This open-tier community event has successfully registered approximately 300 amateur swimmers, sports enthusiasts, and local residents.

The scenic coastal topography of Badung Regency has left a lasting impression on competing athletes, validating the ministry's push to position natural landscapes as world-class competitive arenas.

"Bali has much more culture to be enjoyed. As for sports competitions, this is my first time in Bali, but for a tourist visit, this is my second time," remarked Cho Cheng Chi, a professional swimmer from Taipei, who noted that Bali's unique cultural layer sets it apart from traditional sporting destinations.

Sharing the sentiment, Kazakhstani athlete Lev Cherepanov said that the dramatic coastal sunsets and natural environment provided immense motivation for the race, inspiring him to book a return trip solely for leisure.

“Seeing the sunset, it is very interesting, looking at the sea, enjoying the nature, so I want to come to Bali again for a vacation,” Cherepanov shared enthusiastically. ***