Only One Official Malioboro Street Sign Exists, Others Are Illegal
Recently, there has been a furore over rogue photographers charging tariffs for tourists to take photographs at the Jalan Malioboro sign. The Deputy Mayor of Yogyakarta, Wawan Harmawan, said there is only one official sign.
Wawan made the statement at the Kepatihan Complex in Yogyakarta. He emphasised that there is only one official sign, issued by the Transport Agency.
“There are many people making their own Malioboro signs, which of course should not be allowed. Jalan Malioboro is only the one at the front,” Wawan told journalists at the Kepatihan Complex in Yogyakarta on Tuesday (30/7/2026).
“There is only one official sign, issued by Dishub (the Transport Agency),” he continued.
He also affirmed that there would be an enforcement operation on the Malioboro signs, so that no confusing signs mislead road users.
For context, tourists’ complaints in Malioboro went viral. Through the Threads account @its_lisstyy, it was reported that rogue photographers were charging fees for photographs at the Jalan Malioboro sign.
The Head of the Yogyakarta Special Region Tourism Office, Imam Pratanadi, confirmed that a number of photographers had been bringing privately owned signs reading “Malioboro” to offer photo services. He said these differ from the official signs installed by the government.
“The current phenomenon is that several photographers bring their own signs and offer their services to tourists to take photographs with those signs in the area concerned,” Imam said when contacted on Tuesday (28/7/2026).
Furthermore, Imam said the matter had been coordinated with the Yogyakarta City Tourism Office. Based on the information received, the Yogyakarta City Government is already aware of the issue and will provide guidance to the photographers.
“Based on coordination with the Yogyakarta City Tourism Office, this information is fully known by the Yogyakarta City Government. On Thursday (30/7), guidance will be carried out by the Cultural Heritage Technical Implementation Unit under the Yogyakarta City Culture Office,” he explained.
The Head of the Cultural Heritage Area Management Technical Implementation Unit of Yogyakarta, Fitria Dyah Anggraeni, provided the locations of the official Jalan Malioboro signs that frequently serve as photo spots for tourists. According to her, the dark-green sign bearing Latin and Javanese script is permanently installed at four points.
“At the northern end of Jalan Malioboro, or in front of Bank BPD DIY, in front of the former Teras Malioboro 2, in front of Plaza Malioboro, and at the Pajeksan junction,” said Fitria when contacted on Tuesday (28/7/2026).
She hopes this location information can serve as a guide for tourists wishing to take photographs at the Jalan Malioboro icon, whilst also reducing crowding at a single spot.