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North Korea is set to partially reopen its tourism sector for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic. This decision represents a major shift in the country’s approach to international travel, allowing visitors to return under new guidelines. The reopening aims to revive the tourism industry and improve relations with global travelers after a prolonged period of restrictions.
It's not initially fully opening and there's a major caveat for those visiting.
LONDON -- North Korea plans to partially reopen to tourism later this year after a closure that began in January 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a tourism operator based in China.
Koryo Tours, located in Beijing, announced on Wednesday that tours to North Korea will officially resume in December 2024. The company expressed excitement about this long-awaited development after a four-year hiatus.
The country’s borders have been closed for nearly five years, with North Korea being the first nation to shut its doors when the pandemic began, as noted by Koryo.
The tourism operator mentioned that signs of reopening began to appear around mid-2023. However, while North Korea is opening up, it will not be fully accessible, and visitors will face some restrictions.
The initial reopening will be limited to Samjiyon City, with other areas like Pyongyang remaining off-limits for now. Koryo Tours highlighted that Samjiyon is a key winter tourism spot and warned that early tours may experience some disorganization.
Samjiyon is a prominent winter destination in North Korea, known for its volcanic mountain, Mt. Paektu. The area holds significant cultural and historical importance for both North Korea and the Korean Peninsula.
Koryo Tours noted that while North Korea has worked on developing Samjiyon as a tourist site, it was previously hard to access. The company has been operating in the region for over 30 years but has never seen such a prolonged border closure.
The company visited Samjiyon in 2018 during the filming of 'Michael Palin in North Korea' and found that redevelopment was already underway. Official tour dates will be released soon, and Koryo Tours will update their website once itineraries are finalized.
Koryo Tours stated that the full scope of tourism opportunities is still uncertain but assured that they will prioritize safety and provide expert guidance to travelers.
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Source: abcnews
