Suwon Toilets Now Built in Myanmar

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Seo Dong-young] A clean and convenient Suwon Toilet has been established inside Myanmar's tallest pagoda tourist site, 'Shwemawdaw Pagoda.'

Suwon City and the World Toilet Association (Chairman Yim Tae-young, Mayor of Suwon) held a ceremony on December 27th at 1 p.m. (local time) in Bago, Myanmar, to commemorate the completion of the 'Suwon Toilet.'

About 50 key officials attended, including Kim Young-sik, Director of the Sanitation Resources Division of Suwon City, Shim Young-chan, Director of the World Toilet Association, and U Thaein, Governor of Bago.

Suwon City and the World Toilet Association (WTA) jointly pursued a 'Toilet Installation Support Project' and constructed the toilet inside Shwemawdaw Pagoda in Bago, Myanmar.

Known as Myanmar's tallest pagoda, Shwemawdaw Pagoda is a famous tourist destination, yet its public restroom facilities have been outdated, causing significant inconvenience to tourists and residents.

The newly constructed Suwon Toilet has a total area of 120㎡ and is equipped with separate men's and women's restrooms and facilities for people with disabilities. The women's restroom has 3 toilet bowls, 2 sinks, and 1 shower facility. The men's restroom has 3 stalls, 3 urinals, and 2 sinks. The restroom for people with disabilities has 1 toilet bowl and 1 sink. Construction began in September and was completed in four months.

Director Kim Young-sik said, "We hope that tourists visiting Bago will use the clean Suwon Toilet and enjoy their travels," and added, "We anticipate that the Suwon Toilet will be helpful to many regions facing threats to hygiene and safety due to a shortage of public restrooms."

Governor U Thaein of Bago stated, "Tourists visiting Bago have faced significant inconvenience due to outdated public restroom facilities," and said, "We will systematically manage the Suwon Toilet so that it can serve as a model for all regions of Myanmar."

Meanwhile, the World Toilet Association (WTA), established in 2007, began supporting the construction of public toilets in 9 countries (12 locations) in Africa and Asia, including Ghana, Kenya, Laos, Mongolia, and Cambodia, from 2008 to 2009. By this year, it has built public toilets in 37 locations across 17 countries. The Bago toilet is the 37th facility.