North Korea opens massive tourism resort complex

North Korea has opened a new beach resort town that will welcome visitors from next week, CNN and news hub Travel Mole reported.

Wonsan-Kalma will initially be only for domestic tourists and is located in the home town of North Korea leader Kim Jong Un.

Kim Jong Un personally cut the ribbon of a new resort on the east coast, hailed by state media as a “national treasure-level tourism city” - a seaside development set against what human rights observers describe "as stark realities of hunger and hardship" across North Korea.

The country’s official KCNA news service reported Kim opened the sprawling beachside resort, which features water parks, high-rise hotels, and accommodations for nearly 20,000 guests.

The agency reported "the tourists from home and abroad can choose where [any one] to stay according to their tastes. The tourist area has sea-bathing service facilities and various sports, amusement, commercial and public catering facilities".

 

The launch was a remarkable display of extravagance in what is one of the world’s most reclusive nations.

KCNA reported “service for domestic guests will begin on July 1 in the Wonsan-Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone" but gave no details on eligibility or transportation.

The Kalma beach resort is next to an international airport, which could indicate the project is ultimately aimed at attracting foreign currency through tourism, although international attendance at the ribbon-cutting was limited to the Russian ambassador and staff.

Last year, small groups of Russian tourists visited North Korea for three-day ski holidays at Maskiryong resort, but these, like all tourist experiences in North Korea, were reported as being heavily monitored and controlled by the government.

“I was hoping this might signal a broader reopening to international tourism, but unfortunately, that doesn’t seem to be the case for now,” said Rowan Beard, the co-founder of Young Pioneer Tours, which has hosted group visits to North Korea.

Images: Opening ceremony. KCNA

Anyone for a holiday in North Korea?

Fancy a holiday to North Korea?

Word is that after essentially banning visitors for several years, the Asian nation could be ready to open its doors just a little.

Travel news portal Travel Mole reports that North Korea could be set to welcome foreign tourists back later this year.

DPRK may reopen one city to foreign tourists in December, one tour operator has indicated.

“So far just Samjiyon (above) has been officially confirmed but we think that Pyongyang and other places will open too,” KTG Tours wrote on Facebook this week.

Koryo Tour also said tourists could be allowed back in December.

North Korea recently allowed a tour group from Russia to visit in a one-off pilot scheme.

Koryo Tour believes when North Korea tourism does restart, it will be open to tourists of all nationalities – except South Korea.

The city of Samjiyon, near the Chinese border, is at the foot of the country’s highest mountain and is known for winter sport activities.

The area has seen some tourism-focused development in recent years such as improved infrastructure and

A picnic in Pyongyang anyone?

A friend asked at the weekend what destinations were left on my bucket list.

I struggled to think of any, other, perhaps, than North Korea.

I've always been fascinated by the hermit kingdom and this weekend came the news that North Korea is set to allow in its first organized foreign group tour for over four years.

A group of Russian tourists and skiers will visit next month on a four-day trip - the first group visitors since the start of the pandemic four years ago.

The tour will include a visit to the capital of Pyongyang (above) and then to a ski resort at Masik Pass in Kangwon Province, Travel Mole reports.

Who knew North Korea had a ski resort? But then there are so many mysteries about the country.

The tour has been sold and marketed by Vladivostok-based tour agency Vostok Intur.

News agency Tass said the trip was made possible following an agreement with Oleg Kozhemyako, governor of Russia’s Primorye region, and North Korea officials.

North Korea imposed some of the strictest border controls in the world during the spread of Covid-19 and has been slow to reopen to foreigners.

Fancy a flight to North Korea?

I've often thought that North Korea would be a fascinating place to visit.

The food would probably be average, and I wouldn't expect the service to be great. But what an experience.

Such a trip is now closer to being a possibility after international air links to the "Hermit Kingdom" have resumed after a gap of three years due to Covid-19, Travel Mole reports.

A flight operated by North Korean flag carrier Air Koryo touched down in Beijing from Pyongyang earlier this week.

China has "approved the regular flight plan of Air Koryo for Pyongyang-Beijing-Pyongyang flights and other passenger routes" the Chinese Foreign Ministry said.

Travel agency Koryo Tours said the restart of the Pyongyang-Beijing route would initially facilitate travel for North Koreans to go home.

There is no sign it will lead to a tourism resumption into North Korea just yet.

“This flight isn’t a full resumption of the route yet, it is a special flight for Koreans stuck overseas,” said Simon Cockerell, GM of Koryo Tours.

Air Koryo also has scheduled flights to Vladivostok, Russia, later this week.

A Russian-made Air Koryo Tupolev Tu-204 jet with capacity to carry 210 passengers landed in the Chinese capital on Tuesday and was filmed taking off again later the same day.