In brief
North Korea plans to open the Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone to domestic tourists on July 1, marking a significant milestone for its tourism sector amid ongoing sanctions.
North Korea is preparing to unveil its latest tourism initiative, the Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone, which will open for domestic visitors on July 1, six years after its expected completion date. The project is part of leader Kim Jong Un's strategy to boost tourism in the isolated nation. The beach resort, located along the east coast, boasts the capacity to accommodate up to 20,000 tourists with facilities including hotels, shopping centers, and a water park, although the details remain unverified.Having endured decades of economic sanctions linked to its nuclear program, North Korea remains one of the world's poorest countries. The government prioritizes military expenditures and constructing monuments that promote the Kim family's legacy. Analysts suggest that the resort opening could serve as a new revenue stream for the cash-strapped regime. Currently, foreign tourists are mainly from China and Russia, as these countries have historically maintained diplomatic ties with Pyongyang.Rowan Beard, co-founder of Young Pioneer Tours, expressed skepticism about a potential revival of foreign tourism, suggesting that recent reopening efforts appear limited. The pandemic severely impacted international travel, and while North Korea partially reopened its borders in mid-2023, tourism resumed for a brief period before halting again.Tour operators have mixed feelings about the resort's appeal, with some believing that Western tourists may prefer iconic sites in Pyongyang or the DMZ over a beach getaway. Nevertheless, others like Elliott Davies of Uri Tours see North Korea's niche tourism market attracting adventurous travelers interested in unique destinations.KCNA, North Korea's state news agency, characterized the Wonsan developments as a milestone event, celebrating it as a new era in tourism. Initially slated for completion in October 2019, construction delays and the pandemic pushed back the opening. On June 24, Kim Jong Un, alongside First Lady Ri Sol Ju and their daughter Kim Ju Ae, attended a ceremony to commemorate the resort's opening. Officials from Russia's embassy joined the event, reflecting the strengthening ties between North Korea and Russia amid ongoing international sanctions.The launch of the Wonsan resort dovetails with reopening a direct train route between Pyongyang and Moscow, which had been suspended for five years. As North Korea seeks to expand its limited tourism sector, the eyes of the world will be on whether it can successfully attract foreign visitors once again.
