North Korea has decided to prohibit foreign tourists from visiting its newly established mega beach resort, a move that casts doubt on the future of the site, which Kim Jong-un previously hailed as a significant accomplishment for the year.
A notification from DPR Korea Tour, the North Korean tourism administration’s website, indicated on Friday that the East Coast Wonsan-Kalma Tourist Complex “temporarily received foreign tourists.”
Specifics regarding the reason for this ban or its intended duration were not elaborated on.
Capable of housing nearly 20,000 guests, the resort welcomed domestic tourists on July 1 before briefly hosting a small group of Russian visitors last week. There were hopes that North Korea might eventually cater to Chinese tourists while excluding others.
The ban follows a visit by key Russian diplomats
The timing of this announcement aligns with a recent visit by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who met with North Korean officials, including Foreign Minister Kim and Cho Song Hui, last weekend.
Military and other forms of cooperation between North Korea and Russia have seen rapid growth recently, with North Korea providing arms and personnel to aid Russia in its conflict with Ukraine.
During the discussions with Cho, Lavrov expressed confidence that Russian tourism would increase significantly.
Yet, some experts believe that the ban on foreign tourists was implemented due to evidence suggesting that authorities might have mobilized individuals in the area rather than actual foreign tourists, as reported by Russian journalists.
“The North Korean government seems to think that opening the site to foreigners could lead to negative repercussions,” stated Aukyung-seob from the South Korean Unification Institute, underscoring the uncertainty.
Interestingly, while the ban mentioned Russians might still be allowed, other sources hinted that they could be unlikely to travel there, suggesting challenges for attracting Russian tourists, who might view the trip as too distant and costly.
The ban likely won’t last for long
Analysts believe North Korea will need to welcome visitors from Russia and China to ensure the success of its largest tourist facility, Wonsan-Kalma Zone.
“If foreign tourists remain barred, financial inflow from Russia, China, and other currencies will dry up, which could spell trouble for the resort,” they noted.
Kim Jong-un has labeled the site as a “great success” and a significant stride towards tourism development.
Reports indicate that the Wonsan-Kalma area is currently bustling with local visitors.
The first set of 15 Russian tourists arrived at the resort on July 11 after a trip to Pyongyang, with one visitor, Nina Svilida, commenting positively about the experience, describing it as “spectacular” and expressing satisfaction with the cleanliness and quality of the facilities.
While North Korea is gradually lifting restrictions put in place during the Covid-19 pandemic, it remains unclear if international tourism will return to its previous levels.
The group tours from China, which accounted for the majority of visitors prior to the pandemic, have yet to resume. In February, a limited number were allowed to visit the northeastern city of Layson, but the initiative was halted less than a month later.
