SUWON, South Korea, Jan. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- With geographical proximity to the country's capital Seoul and accommodations in good hands, Suwon city is prepared to host crowds in celebration of the 220th anniversary of Hwaseong Fortress, city officials said Wednesday.
Hwaseong Fortress is a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site that commemorates the filial affection and innovations of King Jeongjo, the 22nd monarch of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) who built the fortress.
The city in Gyeonggi Province, located some 50 kilometers south of Seoul, has designated the year as "Visit Suwon Hwaseong Year" and prepared diverse programs to welcome visitors.
On Saturday, an extension of the Shinbundang subway line will be in operation, bringing the country's capital and the city within 30 minutes of each other, the Suwon City Government said. Currently, there are around 40 bus lines that operate between Seoul and Suwon.
Limousine buses from Incheon International Airport, the country's main gateway, also carry tourists directly to diverse parts of Suwon every 20 minutes.
The municipal government said it is planning to start offering English announcements at major bus stops in the city. It also plans to add Chinese to transportation maps, which currently have only Korean and English written on them.
The city government will launch a safety check and offer hygiene education for 28 tourist hotels in the city this year to improve accommodation services, city officials said.
In addition to the hotels, the city offers other housing options, including guest houses and home stays.
According to the municipal government, it aims to vitalize the home stay business by offering subsidies to the owners.
A 20-year-old hanok, or traditional Korean house, owned by the city government is also to be open to the public for accommodations in March when remodeling is completed, according to city officials.
The municipal government said it will hire more guides, open more information desks and expand free wireless (WiFi) networks in the city to provide better service to visitors.
"(We) will focus on discovering tourism content (in the city) and improving the existing tourism infrastructure, so that tourists will visit Suwon steadily even after the visit year project," a city official said.
Jung Soon Hyeong
[email protected]
+82-31-228-2061
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160127/326373
SOURCE Suwon City Hall
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