A Series of Reasons Why Street Masseurs Are Banned in Malioboro: Oil Smell and Scraping on the Sidewalk

The Head of the UPT for Managing Cultural Heritage Areas of the Yogyakarta City Culture Department (Disbud), Fitria Dyah Anggraeni, stated that itinerant masseurs are among the activities prohibited in the Malioboro pedestrian zone. This is the reason behind it.

It is known that these massage services are one of the targets of raids by officers in Malioboro. In addition to masseurs, other targets include street vendors, buskers, and satay sellers.

Fitria Dyah Anggraeni, known as Anggi, explained that these massage services violate the rules for the Malioboro pedestrian zone. Moreover, her office has received complaints from tourists regarding the presence of these masseurs.

“So, we have indeed received several direct complaints about these masseurs, including complaints about the unpleasant smell, the smell of massage oil,” Anggi clarified when contacted on Wednesday (22/4/2026).

Additionally, the principle of propriety is also a reason. The practice of masseurs performing kerokan on their clients in the pedestrian zone is deemed to create an unsightly view.

“Massage actions sometimes include kerokan. So it’s not pleasant to see. We have reprimanded them for that,” she continued.

Anggi emphasised that her office does not prohibit massage activities as long as they are not in the Malioboro pedestrian zone.

Routine Raids

Anggi said that her office routinely conducts raids to drive away these masseurs from operating in the Malioboro pedestrian zone. However, masseurs still appear.

“The challenge is that massage tools are just oil or lotion or cream; they sometimes put them in their bags and sit like visitors. So it’s hard to identify them,” she explained.

“On the pedestrian benches, they can easily deceive the officers. They just shift a bit, and they’re massaging someone again, like that,” Anggi added.

There are dozens of masseurs who usually earn a living in the Malioboro pedestrian zone. She admitted she does not have further authority to address these massage services.

“Every time we reprimand them, they leave. We haven’t delved deeper into where these masseurs come from, because we don’t have SOPs to check their IDs or anything like that,” she explained.

“If they are to be secured, that’s not our authority. So, our role is just to reprimand them, and most of them comply when we do,” Anggi continued.

Visitors Asked Not to Use Massage Services

Anggi also requested that visitors not use itinerant massage services in Malioboro. She likened it to cutting off the supply if there is no demand. In other words, masseurs will disappear on their own if there is no interest from visitors.

“We directly educate visitors that massage actions are prohibited, and if they really want it, we don’t prohibit it, but please find a suitable place. Meaning, we educate visitors to find places outside the Malioboro area,” she said.