Wheelchair Lift Installed, 27-Seat Express Bus
The ‘Gyeongsangnam-do Disabled World Viewing Bus’ was introduced to the public on the 15th ahead of its first operation.
Gyeongnam Province decided last year to promote the operation of the Disabled World Viewing Bus project to support tourism and travel for people with disabilities who have difficulty walking and find it hard to travel.
A lift capable of mechanically raising and lowering wheelchairs was installed on a 27-seat express bus, allowing wheelchair users to safely board and disembark the vehicle.
The inaugural meeting ceremony of the "Gyeongsangnam-do Disabled World Viewing Bus" was held in the courtyard in front of the central entrance of the Gyeongnam Provincial Government Office. [Photo by Gyeongnam Provincial Government Office]
The Disabled World Viewing Bus is scheduled to travel throughout the province, starting with a one-day trip on the Geoje Gamdong 7 Course organized by the Gyeongnam Disabled Welfare Center on the 16th.
Seojin Aviation Travel Agency, selected through a public contest last September to operate the project, plans to launch various travel products reflecting the needs of people with disabilities and offer them at a 20% discounted price to registered disabled persons in the province.
Upon travelers’ request, a ‘disability-friendly travel course’ developed in collaboration with Gyeongnam Province will also be provided.
Gyeongnam Province Governor Park Wan-su is boarding the 'Gyeongsangnam-do Disabled World Viewing Bus' together with a wheelchair-using person with disabilities. [Photo by Gyeongnam Provincial Government]
The commemorative ceremony for the first meeting of the Disabled World Viewing Bus, held in the front yard of the central entrance of the provincial government building that day, was attended by Governor Park Wan-su, disability organizations, people with disabilities and their families, Jeong Ssang-hak, Chair of the Culture and Welfare Committee of the Provincial Council, Cho Cheol-hyun, Director of the Provincial Social Service Institute, Park Seong-wook, Chair of the Provincial Social Welfare Council, and Yoon Young-ho, President of the Korea Tourism Association Central Committee.
In particular, Governor Park tried boarding the bus using the wheelchair lift together with a wheelchair user with a disability.
At the ceremony, Governor Park said, “I hope this will be a meaningful opportunity for people with disabilities in Gyeongnam to enjoy their daily lives more comfortably and have leisure time.”
He added, “I am very pleased that people with disabilities now have the opportunity to travel comfortably to good places,” and “Gyeongnam Province will continue to strive to ensure that our disabled citizens can live more comfortably and enjoy leisure activities together.”
Disabled representative Seo Hye-jeong said, “I wanted to travel by bus, and I am truly grateful that I can fulfill that wish with the help of Gyeongnam Province,” adding, “Especially since this project was realized through public-private cooperation, the policy effect seems even greater.”
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