Padang City Traders Overcharging Tourists Face Severe Sanctions

The Padang City Government (Pemko) has affirmed that it will impose severe sanctions on traders or culinary business operators who raise prices unreasonably during the 2026 Eid holidays.

The influx of tourists and returnees to Padang is predicted to increase dramatically, prompting Pemko Padang to urge traders not to “mamakuak” or set unilateral prices that disadvantage consumers.

Every culinary business operator is required to have a menu list that includes prices, and to display the price list on a medium that is easily visible and readable by consumers.

“If there are taxes and additional service charges, culinary business operators must clearly inform consumers before they place an order or make payment,” stressed Padang Mayor Fadly Amran on Thursday (20/3).

Fadly added that traders are not permitted to raise prices unilaterally after consumers have placed an order or without clear notification.

If violations are proven based on monitoring by Pemko Padang and consumer complaints, the culinary business operators will face sanctions. “Naughty traders will be heavily sanctioned,” explained Fadly Amran.

Sanctions for non-compliant business operators may include imprisonment for up to five years or a maximum fine of Rp2 billion in accordance with Article 62 paragraph (1) of Law Number 8 of 1999 on Consumer Protection, including administrative sanctions.

Fadly also urged all traders not to tamper with prices, to remain friendly in serving consumers, and to demonstrate the Sapta Pesona attitude.

Pemko Padang has issued Circular Number 500.13.2/52/Dispar-pdg/2026 on Price Certainty in the Framework of Consumer Protection, signed by Mayor Fadly Amran on 17 March 2026.