RUN FOR ALL
This year’s Laguna Phuket Marathon is set to welcome over 10,000 runners and visitors from more than 40 countries to compete in what has become Southeast Asia’s favourite destination marathon.
Presented by Supersports and held on the weekend of June 8-9 at Laguna Phuket, the award-winning marathon is one of the longest-running international sports events on Phuket and is driving the island’s resurgence as a worldclass sports tourism destination.
The picture-postcard course passes the stunning beaches of Nai Yang, Layan and Bang Tao and also takes runners through local villages and lush tropical landscapes.
The popular two-day format sees the 2-kilometre kids’ run, 5km and 10km take place on the Saturday morning (June 8), with the Half Marathon (21.0975km), Marathon Relay (42.195km) and Marathon (42.195km) taking place the following morning.
Expected to contribute hundreds of millions of baht to the island’s tourism economy through accommodation bookings, food and beverage spending, and more, the Laguna Phuket Marathon is a showcase of Thailand’s soft power, and is seeing a surge in interest amongst international participants.
“Since the very first event
18 years ago, Laguna Phuket
Marathon has always appealed to Thai and international runners and this year we arend seeing a surge in internaMarathon organisers are inspiring tional interest, especially from people to exercise Asia-Pacific countries,” said and live a healthier lifestyle Raimund Wellenhofer, Race with this year’s event theme, Director at GAA Events, who “Awake Your Inner Dragon”. organise the marathon. “Laguna Phuket has long
“Our top five international seen Phuket’s sports tourism participating countries for potential and through our 2024 are Japan, Hong Kong, support of the Laguna Phuket Malaysia, Singapore and the Marathon over the past 18 United Kingdom,” he added. years, we have contributed to
“It’s also encouraging to Phuket being today recognised see a good mix of new faces as a world-class sports destinaand returnees. From children tion,” said Prapa Hemmin, Asand families to age-groupers sistant Vice President, Events and top talent across Thailand and Strategic Partnerships at and from overseas, the event Laguna Phuket. attracts all demographics and “It’s equally important it’s great to see many people to us that the benefits from staying on in Phuket to vacation afterwards.”
‘MAKE A DIFFERENCE’
events such as the Laguna Phuket Marathon are shared, and each year we work with the local community to ensure this happens. We invite all runners and spectators to make a difference locally this year and support Laguna Phuket Foundation’s Children First Fund (CFF) through which we support more than 400 underprivileged children in orphanages on the island.”
Nathapat Sukitanon, Director of Activities Promotion Division of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, said, “We are proud to support the Laguna Phuket Marathon by Supersports every year and believe that the event helps to draw both Thai and foreign visitors to Phuket. Sports tourism events like this are important as they contribute significant revenue to the local economy and local entrepreneurs.”
Having set the highest organisational standards for 18 years, Laguna Phuket Marathon is organised by GAA Events and is an internationally-certified and measured run course by World Athletics (WA) and Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS), and is also a qualifying event for the Boston Marathon.
Registration is open online at www.phuketmarathon.com/ registration.
For more information visit: www.phuketmarathon. com; www.facebook.com/ phuketmarathon; or @ phuketmarathon