The opening of the Kalma Coastal Tourist Area, a beach resort complex in Wonsan, Gangwon Province, North Korea, is less than a month away. However, there are currently no signs of foreign tourist recruitment. North Korea has not yet resumed foreign tourism, which was suspended last March.
Kim Jong Un visited the Kalma Tourist Area on December 29 last year. During his visit, he inspected completed service facilities, including hotels, and announced plans to open the tourist area in June of this year officially.
According to an analysis by 38 North, a U.S. media outlet specializing in North Korea, satellite images from the private company Planet Labs show that construction work continues on the resort, including installing an amphitheater and water slides.
However, as of Friday, no related tourism products appear available. North Korean travel agencies like Koryo Tours and Young Pioneer Tours, which have organized trips for foreign tourists in the past, have not announced any new updates or tourism packages related to the Kalma area opening.
Given that travel agencies typically prepare several months’ worth of tourism products in advance, even during periods when North Korean tourism was halted, it suggests that North Korea may have delayed the opening of the Kalma Coastal Tourist Area or does not plan to immediately welcome large numbers of foreign tourists, even if it does open.
The construction schedule itself does not seem to have experienced significant delays. Satellite imaging company SI Analytics reported on May 3 that it detected signs suggesting preparations for Kim’s visit to his family’s villa in Wonsan, indicating that he may soon visit the Kalma Tourist Area to coincide with its opening.
Additionally, North Korea began recruiting tourists from Russia in January. Vostok Intur, a travel agency based in Vladivostok, is seeking tourists to visit the Kalma Tourist Area from July 7 to 14.
Some experts predict that following a grand opening ceremony in early June, attended by Kim, the country will offer relaxation opportunities to construction workers and contributors to the Kalma Tourist Area’s development. They expect tourist numbers to expand, starting with Russian visitors in July.
North Korea resumed foreign tourism in the Rason Special Economic Zone after being halted in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, three weeks later, it fully suspended tourism again, likely due to the spread of negative images and travel reviews about North Korea in the changed social media environment.
Recently, North Korea abruptly canceled the visas of foreign visitors scheduled to attend the Pyongyang Spring International Trade Fair (May 12-16), continuing its uncertain stance toward foreign visitors.
Nevertheless, the Kalma Tourist Area represents a project that Kim has invested over ten years in, aiming to develop it into a world-class coastal tourist city. Given that it is the first achievement in the tourism sector aimed at generating foreign currency, it is unlikely that North Korea will indefinitely postpone the resumption of foreign tourism.