Report Thailand's Running Events Faces Challenges Amid Oversupply and Selective Participants

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Picture courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

The recent fiasco at the "Run for Destination 2025" event, where organisers failed to appear, leaving participants stranded, underscores the challenges facing Thailand's burgeoning running event industry. According to the Thai Mass Participation Sports Trade Association (TMPSA), the incident highlights a saturated market, where only seasoned organisers with substantial experience are expected to thrive.

 

Despite this mishap, Rut Jiroajvanichakorn, TMPSA president, reassures that such failures represent a small fraction of annual races—less than 5%. He points out that organising a marathon is not as straightforward as new entrants might presume, with costs for labour and apparel rising over the past three years. However, ticket prices remain static, unable to adjust to these inflated expenses.

 

Economic pressures have also made runners more selective, focusing on major or more affordable races. As a result, some participants have transitioned to other sports. Last year saw more than 2,000 races, heightening competition to secure sponsorships, with companies inundated with event choices.

 

For a typical 10-kilometre race, tickets average 600 baht, necessitating at least 1,000-3,000 participants to break even. In the absence of sponsors, profitability is elusive, a hurdle more significant for smaller or novice event organisers.

 

In light of the "Run for Destination 2025" incident, Rut advises runners to scrutinize event organisers closely, including checking their credentials. The TMPSA, which doesn't list the organiser of this failed event among its ranks, warns participants to avoid races requiring payments to personal accounts or offering exaggerated prizes.

 

Despite these hurdles, the appeal of running events remains strong, bolstered by the interest of younger generations. While international tourists comprise just 10% of race attendees, Thailand's repertoire of international standard races holds potential for growth, especially with government initiatives like "Amazing Thailand Grand Tourism & Sports Year 2025" underway.

 

Mice and Communication, organisers of the Bangsaen Series marathons, exemplifies success in this arena. Their Bangsaen 21 Half Marathon, honoured with a platinum label by World Athletics, matches the tier of the prestigious Boston Marathon. In 2024, it attracted over 45,000 applications, despite a 12,000-runner cap, reflecting the event's popularity.

 

Taking advantage of competitive pricing, such as Bangsaen 21's 1,600 baht fee, which is about half of comparable events in Japan, positions Thailand as an attractive destination for runners. This was further demonstrated by the recent Bangsaen 10 event, drawing over 12,000 competitors, potentially generating over 500 million baht for local communities.

 

Ultimately, despite challenges, Thailand's running event sector has room for growth, driven by strategic promotion and leveraging competitive advantages.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-06-04