In recent developments, a small cohort of foreign tourists has been welcomed in North Korea, marking the first significant international travel event to the country in five years. This exception follows a previous group of Russian tourists who visited last year. Experts interpret this as North Korea preparing to fully restart its international tourism sector, a crucial measure to acquire foreign currency for its struggling economy.
A Beijing-based travel agency, Koryo Tours, coordinated a five-day trip for 13 travelers from diverse nations, including the U.K., Canada, Greece, New Zealand, and several other European countries. The trip took place from February 20 to February 24, and involved a land entry from China to Rason, a North Korean city known for its special economic zone. During their visit, tourists explored various sites such as factories, shops, schools, and monuments dedicated to Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il.
Koryo Tours General Manager emphasized the significance of this trip, noting that North Korea had been inaccessible to international visitors since early 2020. “Our first tour has been and gone, and now more tourists on both group and private visits are going in, arranging trips,” he added.
Originally, North Korea enacted strict border and travel restrictions following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic to prevent the virus’s spread. However, since 2022, the nation has gradually started to ease these stringent curbs, eventually leading to the current reopening of its borders.
Earlier in 2024, North Korea welcomed about 100 Russian tourists, making them the first foreigners to visit for leisure since the pandemic’s outbreak. This move raised eyebrows among experts who had anticipated China—North Korea’s main trading partner and ally—would be the first to resume such tourism.
According to official Russian sources, approximately 880 Russian tourists visited throughout 2024. Meanwhile, Chinese group tours have not yet resumed. The growing bond between North Korea and Russia is evident, particularly as North Korea provided military support to Russia amidst its ongoing conflict with Ukraine. Meanwhile, relations with China have cooled, influenced by China’s hesitation about forming a three-way anti-U.S. alliance with North Korea and Russia.
Pre-pandemic, North Korea saw tourism as a legitimate source of foreign currency to skirt around international sanctions due to its nuclear ambitions. It’s anticipated that a major tourism site on North Korea’s east coast will open by June. This prospective opening follows comments from former U.S. President Donald Trump praising North Korea’s potential tourism zones, particularly along the eastern coast.
A vital component of revitalizing North Korea’s tourism industry is the return of Chinese tourists, who made up a significant majority of visitors before travel suspensions. Lee Sangkeun, a South Korean intelligence agency think tank expert, noted that annual Chinese tourists to North Korea once peaked at 300,000.
Lee further explained that although North Korea has heavily invested in developing tourism sites, there is minimal domestic demand. “We can assess that North Korea now wants to resume international tourism to bring in many tourists from abroad,” Lee mentioned.
Nonetheless, restrictive measures usually applied to foreign visitors in North Korea, such as mandatory local guides and restrictions on photos, might pose challenges in expanding tourism. Rason, Pyongyang, and upcoming sites on the eastern coast are perceived as areas where the country can maintain better oversight and control over foreign tourists.
