North Korea is set to reopen international tourism to its northeastern city of Samjiyon in December, with the possibility of expanding access to the rest of the country, according to tour companies on Wednesday.
This decision signals that the isolated nation may be preparing to welcome larger groups of foreign tourists after years of strict COVID-19 border controls.
Koryo Tours, a Beijing-based company, confirmed on its website, “We have received confirmation from our local partner that tourism to Samjiyon, and potentially the rest of the country, will officially resume in December 2024.”
Although international flights to and from North Korea resumed last year, the country has remained largely closed to international tourists since 2020. A small group of Russian tourists managed a private tour in February, and high-profile visits, including one by Russian President Vladimir Putin in June, have taken place.
“We are thrilled to finally announce the reopening of North Korean tourism after a wait of over four years,” Koryo Tours stated, noting that further details on itineraries and dates would be confirmed in the coming weeks.
Samjiyon, located near the Chinese border, has been a focal point for North Korea’s development efforts. The country has described it as a “socialist utopia” and a “model of a highly-civilized mountain city,” featuring new apartments, hotels, a ski resort, and various commercial, cultural, and medical facilities.
In July, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un dismissed or demoted several senior officials for their “irresponsible” management of the Samjiyon project. Another travel agency, KTG Tours, also announced that tourism to Samjiyon would resume this winter.
Source: Reuters
