The popular running competition will take place at Bang Wad reservoir in Kathu on the weekend of June 28-29 and is expected to attract thousands of local, national and overseas participants.
The race is to be divided into three separate distances of 7 kilometres, 15km and 25km, with all three catgeories open to male and female competitors and cash prizes and trophies distributed to the top three placed finishers in each.
An official press conference to announce the event was held at Central Festival shopping mall on Wednesday (May 14), overseen by Phuket Vice Governor Samawit Suphanpai.
Mr Samawit explained that the Phuket leg of the AITR 2024 competition is one of six races being held, with others staged in the nearby provinces of Satun, Trang, Krabi, Phang Nga and Ranong.
The course at Bang Wad reservoir will provide sufficient enough challenge to competitors while affording them opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the local environment, he added.
Mr Samawit also explained how the event can help boost tourism and the local economy during the quieter rainy season.
Panachakorn Chaiyen, a representative of the Phuket Provincial Tourism Business Association, explained that trail running has surged in popularity in recent years and has become very much a popular trend and that the AITR Phuket event is expected to attract thousands of local, national and overseas competitors, which will provide a welcome boost to the island’s economy.
Given the nature of the race takes competitors through forest and jungle land, the event is also a great way to showcase the natural beauty of Phuket and Bang Wad reservoir in particular as it takes competitors through picturesque forest and jungle land, Ms Panachakorn added.
Participant numbers are limited to 700 across all three race distance. For more information visit the Andaman Trail Phuket Facebook page or contact LINE: @ThailandSportSeries.