North Korea has temporarily banned foreign tourists from the Mega Beach Resort at the Wonsan-Kalma Tourist Complex, a move that complicates Kim Jong-un’s tourism goals, which he previously hailed as a major success. This decision follows a visit from Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who emphasized expanding tourism ties with North Korea. The resort is designed to accommodate nearly 20,000 guests, but recent reports by Russian journalists raised concerns within the North Korean government about potential negative repercussions.
While domestic tourists have been visiting, experts believe the ban reflects challenges in attracting foreign tourists, particularly Russians, due to perceptions of distance and cost. Analysts argue that North Korea will eventually need to reopen to international tourists, especially from Russia and China, to generate necessary revenue. Local media claim the resort is thriving with domestic visitors. However, the country has yet to fully lift Covid-19 travel restrictions, and tourism from China, which previously accounted for over 90% of visitors, remains stalled.
Source link
