Pribadi Wicaksono (Kontributor), Yogyakarta – Tourists and tourism business owners who dare to smoke in public areas on Malioboro Street, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, will face new sanctions prepared by the Technical Implementation Unit (UPT) for the Management of Yogyakarta's Cultural Heritage Area.
So far, the sanctions imposed on public smokers have only been verbal warnings. However, those caught smoking in public will now face stricter sanctions, such as cleaning toilets or collecting a certain amount of cigarette butts on Malioboro.
"The new sanction (cleaning toilets) may be implemented soon, possibly starting this month, as the technical aspects are still being finalized," said the Head of UPT for the Management of Yogyakarta's Cultural Heritage Area, Ekhwanto, on Tuesday, July 1, 2025.
This social sanction is designed to reduce the number of visitors who still dare to smoke in public, despite several designated smoking areas on Malioboro Street.
In accordance with the Regional Regulation of Yogyakarta City Number 2 of 2017, Malioboro has been designated as one of the Smoke-Free Zones (KTR). Starting in 2025, violators of the KTR regulations on Malioboro, such as smoking in public places, could face a maximum fine of Rp7.5 million or imprisonment, although this has not been enforced.
Ekhwanto revealed that there are already many information boards and warnings along Malioboro to discourage smoking in open areas where many people pass by daily. In Malioboro alone, there are 11 designated smoking shelters.
"If the person is a tourist or new to the area, they may be pardoned and given a warning, but tourism industry players should already understand this," he said.
Officers use loudspeakers to warn visitors caught smoking through CCTV surveillance, especially during school holidays when there is a high influx of visitors. They mention the color of the person's clothing and the smoking location, urging them to put out their cigarette immediately.
These new sanctions for violators are intended to be educational and raise awareness to prevent repeat offenses. "To instill a sense of deterrence and create awareness to maintain a smoke-free atmosphere on Malioboro," he said.
If the technical details of the new sanctions are finalized, Ekhwanto stated that they will be publicized. Currently, the proposal for these sanctions has been forwarded to the Yogyakarta City Tourism Office for refinement and publication of the regulations.