MERSING: Gunung Arong Challenge 2024 is seen as a catalyst in promoting the Mersing district as an extreme sports location to attract tourists on the international stage. Mersing District Officer Jamil Hasni Abdullah said the degree of difficulty of the trail run, which was held for the third time, had become increasingly challenging with three running distances of 10 kilometres (km), 25 km and 35 km.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, this year’s programme attracted 546 runners from within and outside the country, including Singapore, Hong Kong, China, the Philippines, Japan and Poland, thus becoming a catalyst for economic spillover to the local community. Jamil Hasni highlights that the significant increase in participants proves Gunung Arong’s capability to satisfy trail climbing enthusiasts and its potential as an extreme sports tourism destination.
In addition to the challenging trails, the Gunung Arong Forest Reserve is noted for its historical attractions and rich biodiversity, featuring unique flora
, fauna, and ecosystem diversity. Jamil Hasni emphasized the area’s appeal to local and international tourists, especially those interested in climbing or trail running. The reserve boasts various sights such as Gunung Arong Peak, Teluk Arong’s stark scenery, and quartz ridges composed entirely of silica minerals.
The biodiversity of the reserve was further explored during the Gunung Arong Forest Reserve Biodiversity Scientific Expedition conducted from September 17 to 21, identifying five forest strata: Lowland Dipterocarp Forest, Kerangas Forest, Peat Swamp Forest, Mangrove Forest, and Freshwater Swamp Forest. Jamil Hasni believes this initiative will not only benefit the local government but also drive research and studies in the area.
The Gunung Arong Challenge 2024 Carnival featured additional activities such as colouring competitions, a folk sports contest, exhibitions, and food and drinks sales by the community. Jamil Hasni noted that these activities could increase community competence and serve as
a platform to promote Mersing’s resources, generating socio-economic benefits for the homestay, food, and tourism sectors.
The event was organized by the Johor State Forestry Department, Mountain Goat Events, Ribuan Kembara Johor Outdoor Activities Club, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei.