Why Is Mapo-gu Taking the Lead in Training Hosts for Traditional Culture Experiences?

Traditional Culture Experience Education Program for 30 Local Guesthouse Operators... Hands-on Training in 5 Areas Including Natural Dye Craft, Home-style Cooking, and Mother-of-Pearl Craft

Traditional Culture Experience Held at Guesthouse

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Mapo-gu (Mayor Yudonggyun) is conducting the 'Guesthouse Traditional Culture Experience Project' to support the tourism industry, which has been stagnated due to COVID-19, and to foster guesthouses where unique traditional cultural experiences of Mapo are possible.

The 'Guesthouse Traditional Culture Experience Project' targets foreigner-friendly guesthouse operators within the region, providing traditional culture experience training preferred by foreigners. The core goal is to strengthen the capabilities of guesthouse operators so that they can later utilize these experiences as guesthouse tourism programs.

The program is conducted in five fields: ▲Natural Dyeing Craft Class ▲Korean Home-style Cooking ▲Mother-of-Pearl Craft Class ▲Traditional Flower Tea Class ▲Traditional Knot Craft Class.

The participants are guesthouse operators located in Mapo-gu, with up to 6 people per field, totaling 30 people.

Participants will receive traditional culture experience training over four sessions throughout September in each field, including making Najeonchilgi hand mirrors, rose flower tea, and dyeing handkerchiefs. Based on this, they will practice directly operating experience programs for foreigners from October onward.

The training will be conducted strictly following quarantine guidelines and may be changed to online education depending on the social distancing level.

The application period is from August 18 to August 26. Applications can be made on the website of the Foreign Tourist City Guesthouse Association, which oversees the program operation, and will be closed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Meanwhile, Mapo-gu has about 400 guesthouses (as of the end of July) around Seogyo, Donggyo, and Yeonnam-dong, with good airport accessibility and convenient access to major tourist attractions.

This accounts for about 32% of Seoul’s guesthouses, the highest number nationwide.

As foreign tourists sharply declined due to closed air routes caused by COVID-19, the district plans to enhance the self-sustainability and competitiveness of guesthouses through the 'Guesthouse Traditional Culture Experience Project' and develop it into a traditional cultural experience tourism product unique to Mapo, preparing ahead for tourism demand in the post-COVID era rather than a one-off project.

Yudonggyun, Mayor of Mapo-gu, said, “I hope this traditional culture experience project will be an opportunity and a stepping stone for recovery for guesthouse operators going through difficult times due to COVID-19,” and added, “The district will do its best to revitalize the stagnant tourism industry.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.