North Korea will resume international tourism this winter, ending a coronavirus-era travel ban, according to an operator that organizes trips to the country.
travel company CTG and Goryeo travelGroups that organize travel to North Korea said Wednesday that their partners in the country have informed them of the government’s plans to allow travel to certain locations.
Travel to the North Korean city of Samjiyon will be allowed by December, and other parts of the country may also open for travel, according to the companies.
“After more than four years of making this announcement, Koryo Travel is very excited that tourism in North Korea is opening up again,” Beijing-based travel agency Koryo Travel said in a statement. statement on its website.
This undated photo released by North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on November 28, 2016 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (centre) standing among skiers at Samjiyon.
Queensland | AFP | Getty Images
North Korea has been largely closed to foreign tourists since 2020, although some international flights in and out of the country resumed last year. russian clique It is said Visited North Korea in February.
The country has been preparing for a broader reopening for some time.
North Korea has been working for years to develop and build tourist facilities in Samjiyon, a mountain town near the Chinese border, according to Koryo Tourism.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who visited the city last month, praised its “A model of highly civilized mountain city”, according to North Korean state media, there are new hotels, attractions and ski resorts.
another major travel website Construction is underway on the country’s east coast.
These efforts could help North Korea recover economically from the devastating effects of the global pandemic.
According to the Koryo Tourism website, prices for introductory tours to North Korea usually range from 600 euros to 1,500 euros per person, depending on factors such as departure location, duration, group size and accommodation.
The only nationality restricted from traveling to North Korea as a tourist is a citizen of the Republic of Korea.
At the same time, the U.S. government has a Travel to the country is strongly discouraged. “A U.S. passport is not valid for travel to, into, or through North Korea unless specifically verified by the Department of State.”
The opening of Samjiyon is likely to attract Chinese tourists, who made up the majority of international visitors to North Korea before the outbreak.
2019, one A record 350,000 Chinese According to NK News, a US website that provides analysis on North Korea, tourists visiting North Korea provide Pyongyang with a huge source of revenue.
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