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Seoul asked to improve facilities, traffic system for tourists
Tourists visit Gyeongbok Palace in central Seoul, Jan. 5. / Yonhap
By Jun Ji-hye
By Jun Ji-hye
The Seoul Metropolitan Government should expand facilities such as public trash cans and feeding rooms for mothers with infants to provide more convenience for tourists, according to a survey released Wednesday by the Seoul Tourism Organization.
The survey showed that 28 percent of residents of the capital thought the lack of such facilities was the biggest problem impeding the further development of tourism in the city.
Among those who complained about insufficient facilities, 33 percent said the lack of trash cans have caused littering in the streets, while 23 percent called for expanding feeding rooms for mothers with infants, and increasing braille tourism brochures for visually impaired tourists.
The organization has been carrying out the survey jointly with the Seoul government via Facebook since December, encouraging people to post comments on 854 tourist spots in Seoul.
They wrote about the inconvenience they have experienced while touring Seoul, in addition to suggestions.
In the survey, 23 percent of citizens cited traffic problems as an issue that needed to be improved. Of them, 29 percent said the public transportation system was too complicated, while 21 percent complained about the lack of parking lots.
Other complaints included insufficient tourist information (22 percent), poor tour programs (15 percent) and environmental pollution (4.8 percent).
Citizens called on the Seoul government to release more mobile phone applications and install more signs to offer accurate information to tourists, including foreigners.
Some citizens also suggested increasing taxi tour programs and introducing a mobile parking lot reservation system.
“Based on citizens' opinions collected in the survey, we will work to solve public inconveniences in cooperation with relevant institutions,” an official from the Seoul Tourism Organization said. “We will continue to carry out surveys to listen to a variety of opinions from citizens.”
Meanwhile, the Seoul government will operate 27 buses that run on four routes connecting major bus stops within the city's so-called Green Transport Zones to tourist attractions, beginning from 10 a.m. on Jan. 29.
Bus fares are set at 600 won ($0.5), half the price of fares of existing city buses.
The Green Transport Zones, which cover areas within the Seoul City Wall, or Hanyangdoseong, follow the four mountains surrounding the center of Seoul, as well as four main gates.
The operation of the buses on new routes is in line with the city's ongoing efforts to curb air pollution. The city said new buses will increase public convenience thanks to its policy to restrict vehicles that are categorized as Grade 5 in terms of emission within certain areas.
Compressed natural gas-powered buses will be operated initially, with the Seoul government planning to replace them with electric vehicles by the end of May.