A North Korea-focused travel agency has announced that foreign tourism in the Rason (Najin-Sonbong) region, which was suspended after a brief three-week run in February, is set to resume soon.
On Tuesday, Koryo Tours, a China-based travel agency, posted a notice on their website titled, Rason Tour Resumption – Unofficial Announcement.
The agency revealed that they have received updated information regarding the opening of North Korea’s borders. While unofficial, they noted positive signs pointing towards the resumption of tourism in North Korea and specifically in Rason.
Koryo Tours also shared that they received information on June 16 indicating North Korea would open its borders to certain business travelers holding Chinese passports.
The agency expressed optimism about the borders reopening soon, stating they would update their official announcement as soon as the resumption of Rason tourism is confirmed.
North Korea had completely sealed its borders in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing its tourism industry to a halt. However, in a surprising move this February, the country began welcoming group tours from Western tourists to the Rason Economic Zone, marking the first return of foreign visitors in nearly five years.
Surprisingly, less than a month later, North Korea abruptly suspended Rason tourism. Travel agencies, including Koryo Tours, received an unexpected notification from North Korean authorities that tourism was temporarily halted, with no explanation provided for the reasons or potential restart date.
Experts speculate that the suspension may have been due to concerns about negative publicity from candid tourist reviews exposing North Korea’s poor conditions and inadequate tourism infrastructure. Other potential factors include the need to address shortcomings in facilities and tourist management, as well as the necessity to enhance health protocols amidst a potential COVID-19 resurgence.
Despite these setbacks, North Korea has made efforts to revive its tourism sector. The country hosted the Pyongyang International Marathon in April and opened the Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Area in July. However, in a puzzling move, Wonsan Kalma also announced it would not accept foreign tourists shortly after its grand opening, hinting at ongoing challenges.
With foreign tourism effectively on hold since mid-year, North Korea appears to be gearing up for a tourism comeback as we approach year-end. Recently, Koryo Tours announced the schedule for next year’s Pyongyang International Marathon in April and has begun recruiting foreign tourists, signaling a potential thaw in the country’s tourism freeze.