New bus routes added, 150 smartphone apps combined in mega-app to put useful information at tourist’s fingertips

Busan City is moving to ramp up tours of the area in terms of quantity and quality with a focus on building up tourism infrastructure and improving customer service.

One of the first measures is extending the number of Busan City Tour courses and reducing the intervals between them.

Busan City has also pulled together 150 smartphone apps to help tourists navigate their way around more easily and not miss out on the best of what the area has to offer. The apps provide details on public transportation, travel information, sightseeing options, accommodation, food and much more.

The new city tours that will be launched in January will introduce tourists to the history and culture of Dongnae and  Geumjeong areas and a special trip to Haedong Yonggung Temple.

The new list of tours being drawn up will be included the current trips to Haeundae and Taejongdae, as well as night view tours of the city and Eulsukdo Ecology Course.

Meanwhile, guests can choose to learn more about the history and culture of the region by visiting the ancient tombs of Bokcheon-dong.

This tour begins from Busan Station and takes in the tombs before crossing the Geumgang Park by cable car and heading to Beomeosa Temple.

The Haedong Yonggung Temple course departs from the same station and takes in Songjeong Beach, Haedong Yonggung Temple and Gwangan Bridge, treating guests to Busan’s beautiful coastline as it stretches from the beaches of Haeundae to Songjeong and Gijang.

The city will provide more buses plying the top tour routes to minimize waiting times and maximize convenience. In line with demand, two additional buses will be added to the hugely popular Haeundae and Taejongdae routes with intervals trimmed from 40 to 30 minutes. Of all the tour options in Busan, some 85 percent of tourists select this one.

And from January, 42-seater buses will manage the Eulsukdo Ecology Course and night view course, up from 28 at present.

Additionally, authorities are teaming up with the city bus information management system to provide a smartphone app that automatically sends an alarm to subscribers’ phones notifying them when their bus is about to arrive.

The city will also set up more comfortable bus shelters at Busan Station, Haeundae and Gwangalli replete with extra facilities.

Furthermore, Busan City and the Busan IT Industry Promotion Agency have produced a comprehensive Busan App that brings together 150 separate apps dealing with information related to tours of Busan.

* Information:  Tourism Promotion Division (051-888-3521), Busan City Tour reservation hotline (1688-0098), website (www.citytourbusan.com)


* Government press release (December 13)