Yogyakarta to Restrict Large Buses from City Center to Ease Congestion

April 12, 2025 | 07:40 pm

TEMPO.CO, Yogyakarta - The Yogyakarta City government is in the final stages of planning several regional developments aimed at preventing future economic activity from being solely concentrated in the bustling city center. This strategy includes revitalizing the potential of the southern and northern regions of the city, which border the Bantul and Sleman Regencies.

This initiative was announced during a meeting between Yogyakarta Mayor Hasto Wardoyo, Deputy Mayor Wawan Harmawan, and Yogyakarta Governor  Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X at the Kepatihan Yogyakarta Complex on Friday, April 11, 2025.

"For the southern region, we will soon optimize several areas, especially Giwangan Terminal, as a central point for large buses entering the city," Hasto stated after the meeting.

With the enhancement of Giwangan Terminal, tourists arriving on large buses will be transferred to smaller shuttle vehicles upon reaching the city limits. This redirection of large bus traffic away from the city center is intended to alleviate the persistent traffic congestion caused by limited parking availability.

"We will expedite the planning for the preparation of Giwangan Terminal to accommodate large tourist buses, so they do not enter the city. Instead, passengers will utilize shuttle services to reach the city," added Hasto.

The restructuring of the southern area of Yogyakarta is also a directive from the Sultan, as discussed during the meeting. This measure aims to reduce the concentration of tourists in the downtown area, particularly during long holiday periods.

Hasto explained that the southern region of Yogyakarta possesses several closely located attractions that can be developed to reduce the economic and tourism disparity between the northern and southern parts of the city.

In addition to Giwangan Terminal, the southern region of Yogyakarta features cultural heritage sites with a Mataram Kingdom influence in Kotagede, as well as the Embung Giwangan Cultural Park (TBEG) and the XT Square area, which was initially intended for souvenir shops but has recently been repurposed as a night market.

Hasto believes that the development of these tourist destinations in southern Yogyakarta will gradually ease the congestion in the downtown area, which currently heavily relies on the Malioboro-Tugu-Titik Nol Kilometer (Malioboro Street-Monument-Zero Kilometer Point) area as its primary tourist hub.

Authorities have also begun promoting the development plan for southern Yogyakarta to tourism-related businesses, such as hotels, restaurants, and souvenir shops, to garner support for the area's revitalization. "We are also preparing easy accessibility within the area using shuttle services to connect Giwangan Terminal, Gembira Loka Zoo, XT Square, and TBEG," he mentioned.

The central area of Yogyakarta, with relatively narrow roads and limited parking spaces, consistently experiences severe congestion during long holidays. This has become a common occurrence. Large buses often contribute to the extraordinary traffic during these peak periods in the region, sharing the roads with cars, motorcycles, motorized pedicabs (becak), horse-drawn carriages (andong), bicycles, and even logistics trucks.

Editor's Choice: Top 10 Coolest Neighborhoods in the World, One in Bali

Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News

5 Best Places to Enjoy Songkran Festival in Phuket, Thailand

2 hari lalu

Immersive and Vibrant: Here are 10 Must-See Festivals in Indonesia

3 hari lalu

US Tourist Arrested for Sneaking Into North Sentinel Island

4 hari lalu

7 Richest Caribbean Countries: Where Luxury and Wealth Converge

7 hari lalu

Experience These 10 Iconic Spiritual Locations in Eastern Indonesia

13 hari lalu

Yogyakarta Flood Causes Underground River at Pantai Baron to Overflow and Turn Brown

13 hari lalu

KPAI: Budget Cuts Affect Child-Friendly Corners Along Eid Homecoming Routes

15 hari lalu

Six Killed as Tourist Submarine Carrying Russians Sinks off Egypt's Coast

15 hari lalu

Thai Cabinet Approves Draft Law for Casinos, with Limits for Local Gamblers

16 hari lalu

Eid Adventures in Korea: 10 Must-See Spots in Jeolla

16 hari lalu