North Korea appears to have recently resumed group tours for Chinese tourists in the northeastern border city of Rason. Experts predict that foreign tourism, which was suspended in March, will soon make a comeback.
According to NK News, a U.S. media outlet specializing in North Korean affairs, the travel agency Young Pioneer Tours revealed that their North Korean partner in Rason expects foreign tourism to resume shortly.
They reported that a group of Chinese tourists recently visited the Rason Economic Special Zone, and this successful trip has prompted North Korea to plan a gradual expansion of foreign tourism. However, specific dates and details are yet to be confirmed.
Simon Cockerell, General Manager of Koryo Tours, another North Korea-focused travel agency, mentioned that the recent Chinese visitors were travel industry professionals. He believes this indicates North Korea is preparing for a broader resumption of its tourism sector.
This marks the first time since March that North Korea has welcomed foreign tourists to Rason. In February, North Korea briefly reopened tourism for non-Russian foreigners in Rason but abruptly halted it after just three weeks.
The sudden suspension was reportedly due to concerns over travel influencers sharing more photos and videos than anticipated, leading to difficulties in controlling their activities within the country. Moving forward, there is talk of potentially banning tourist visas for active social media influencers and requiring them to obtain special permits, similar to those required of journalists.
Some experts remain skeptical about North Korea’s expansion of foreign tourism. They argue that focusing on friendly nations like Russia won’t significantly boost foreign currency earnings.
Meanwhile, there’s still no official word on the opening of the Galma Coast Tourism Area, a beach resort complex in Wonsan, Gangwon Province, which North Korea had promised to unveil this month.
However, preparations seem to be ongoing. On June 12, renovations at Galma Station were completed with an inauguration ceremony. Last month, the Wonsan Galma Coast Tourism Special Zone Law was enacted, suggesting continued progress.
Recent satellite images from Planet Labs, a private company, show beach furniture like sunbeds arranged along the sandy shore and electric carts ready at tram stations, hinting at the resort’s imminent opening.