The Trinidad Alfonso Zurich Valencia Marathon will celebrate its largest edition in history on Sunday, December 7, with 36,000 participants in the grand event in the running city of Valencia.
Organize the test, responsible for … On Monday, SD Correcaminos presented the astonishing tourism data for this 45th edition, which highlights that 67% of registered runners come from outside Spain, increasing last year’s percentage and demonstrating the internationalization of the race, which this year will include participants from 150 different countries with France, the United Kingdom and Italy as the main source of runners who will come to the city. The distribution of enrolled participants was complete with 19% of participants from the Valencian Community and 14% from the rest of the autonomous regions of Spain.
Juan Botella, General Director of SD Correcaminos, pointed out that these numbers allow the city to enjoy the impact of a huge economic and touristic spending from this event, which reported in the report prepared annually by the Ivie (Valencia Institute for Economic Research) about 40 million euros of tourist spending by participants and accompanying people in the 2024 edition which could be exceeded by the current registration figures. “Let’s continue to care about this race as it is, more than just an athletics event, an economic engine for Valencia and the Valencian community in the month of December,” Botella said.
This geographical distribution of participants leads to hotel occupancy in the city of Valencia, according to data forecasts compiled by Visit Valley, recording an average occupancy of more than 90% on the eve of a major sporting event.
Tourism consultant and President of the Visit València Foundation, Paola Lobet, noted that the marathon has established itself as one of the great international ambassadors of our city. “Its tourism impact is clear: hotel occupancy on the event weekend reached 87% in 2023 and 91.7% in 2024. We estimate that this year it will reach around 90%, and this week we will conduct the initial survey. The numbers sold out in two weeks confirm the event’s appeal and its ability to calm the season and invigorate December, one of the quieter months on the tourist calendar. Loubet pointed out that the marathon is not just a sport: it is a message of introduction to the world and a celebration of our identity as an open, healthy Mediterranean city committed to sport.
Many of these runners visiting Valencia do so through WelcomeToValencia, the Valencia Marathon tourism platform alongside Transvia, which has 80 associated accommodations and 3,100 rooms available. «Welcome to Valencia does not only serve to fill hotels. It is a project that enhances the city’s position and improves the tourism sector. “We protect the runner and protect the reputation of our city,” explained José Pablo Vázquez, General Manager of Transvia Sport. Through WelcomeToValencia, people who book their stay benefit from the special conditions of the program, not only in the final price, but also with additional services such as late check-out, a convenient breakfast on race day and from 5:30 am, or free transportation at the start, among others.
“The Valencia Marathon is an example of the tourism image not only of Valencia, but of the entire community, where even the Valencian runner himself benefits from having the best marathon in the world,” noted José Manuel Camarero, Regional Secretary of Tourism of the Province of Valencia, which collaborates with the race to highlight the main tourist destinations of the Valencian community on various supports at kilometer points along the route.
This show was held at the Prince Felipe Museum of the City of Arts and Sciences, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary, with its general director, Ana Ortels, stressing: “The City of Arts and Sciences is the meeting point of the Valencia Marathon. We are your target, we are the place where the dreams of thousands of participants come true. We are the home of the Marathon and this fills us with pride.”
The image of the Ciutat de les Arts i les Cièency in its stunning start and unparalleled finish line, along with the rest of the way through the city, can be seen practically all over the planet, as the Valencia Trinidad Alfonso Zurich Marathon will once again be the most broadcast race of 42.195 kilometers in the world, with live or delayed broadcasts already confirmed on 414 TV channels from all continents.