Smoking Violations Dominate During Eid Holiday in Malioboro
Smoking violations in unauthorised areas within the Malioboro smoke-free zone (KTR) dominated during the Eid holiday period from 18 to 25 March 2026. The Yogyakarta Municipal Civil Service Police Unit (Satpol PP) issued warnings to the smokers involved.
Head of Satpol PP Yogyakarta City, Octo Noor Arafat, stated that most violations found related to the Malioboro KTR involved smoking in inappropriate places. Other frequent violations concerned the presence of street vendors (PKL) and itinerant sellers in Malioboro.
In response to these violations, Satpol PP Yogyakarta immediately issued warnings to visitors smoking, as well as to PKL and itinerant sellers.
“Indeed, for this Jogobaran operation, the approach is persuasive, so we prioritise verbal warnings and issuing notices,” he explained.
Satpol PP Yogyakarta issued verbal warnings to five buskers for entering the Malioboro area. Octo stated that the buskers who entered were informed that specific spots for busking have been designated in Malioboro, so they cannot perform arbitrarily.
“We issued verbal warnings (to the buskers). We then urged them to leave the Malioboro area,” said Octo.
He explained that the Jogobaran post in the Malioboro area concluded on Wednesday night (26/3/2026). Subsequent security for Malioboro would revert to colleagues in the Technical Implementation Unit for the Management of Cultural Heritage Areas (UPT PKCB) of Yogyakarta City.
He added that Satpol PP Yogyakarta’s role is to provide support for security in Malioboro through patrols. “Satpol PP is on backup. We optimise patrols in the Malioboro area, including Jalan Pasar Kembang,” said Octo.
Secretary of Satpol PP Yogyakarta City, Heri Eko Prasetyo, explained that during the Eid holiday, Satpol PP Yogyakarta established five Jogobaran alert posts in the Malioboro area from 18-25 March 2026. The posts were located in front of the former Teras Malioboro 2, in front of Kepatihan, in front of Toko Terang Bulan, Bank Jogja Pasar Beringharjo, and around Gereja Margomulyo.
Personnel involved in one Jogobaran shift numbered approximately 115 people from Satpol PP, Linmas Task Force, Jogoboro, local Linmas, and Jaga Warga from three sub-districts around the Malioboro area.
Head of UPT for the Management of Cultural Heritage Areas of Yogyakarta City, Fitria Dyah Anggraeni, stated that in the past week, Malioboro was crowded with 272,607 visitors from 19-24 March 2026.
Up to Tuesday, 24 March 2026, the number of visitors remained high at 70,709 people. The peak visitation occurred on Monday, 23 March 2026, with 78,127 people.
The Malioboro area remains a favourite tourist destination during the Eid holiday. Tourists are willing to endure traffic jams to reach the area.
The Special Region of Yogyakarta Regional Government targets the Malioboro area in Yogyakarta City to transform into a full pedestrian zone starting in 2026.