Despite past setbacks, the resort aims to accommodate thousands while navigating the complexities of international relations and sanctions.
**North Korea Launches New Beach Resort Amid Hopes for Tourism Revival**
**North Korea Launches New Beach Resort Amid Hopes for Tourism Revival**
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un unveils a new beach resort in Wonsan Kalma, targeting a boost in domestic and international tourism.
In a significant move to revitalize its tourism sector, North Korea is set to open the Wonsan Kalma beach resort on July 1, 2023. The launch, reported by state media, indicates an attempt by Kim Jong Un to enhance domestic tourism in the communist state, which has been severely impacted by years of international sanctions and the pandemic's aftermath. Originally scheduled for completion in 2019, the resort is expected to cater to domestic visitors initially, with no clear timeline for welcoming foreign tourists.
The Wonsan Kalma resort, located on the country's east coast, boasts accommodations for up to 20,000 guests across a 4-kilometer stretch of shoreline, complete with hotels, dining options, shopping centers, and a water park—assertions that remain unverified due to the regime's tightly controlled environment. The area is historically significant for Kim, who spent his youth in opulence in Wonsan, a locale favored by North Korea's elite.
Experts observe that the resort's opening might create a revenue stream for a country often criticized for prioritizing military expenditures over public welfare. Although the North has permitted limited foreign tour groups—mainly from China and Russia—international tourism faces significant challenges. Rowan Beard of Young Pioneer Tours expressed cautious optimism, noting that while Wonsan's opening is a step, it doesn’t signal a broader reopening to international travelers.
The pandemic had significantly curtailed tourist access since early 2020, with the situation only gradually improving from mid-2023. While some Western tourists returned briefly in early 2023, limitations were imposed shortly after, leading to skepticism regarding the Wonsan resort's appeal to international visitors. Some tour operators anticipate that initial foreign tourism will be largely directed towards Russian tourists, the only foreign nationals currently permitted in several areas.
Simultaneously, North Korea's partnership with Russia is seen as increasingly significant in the context of geopolitical sanctions. Recent cooperative efforts include the reinstatement of a direct passenger train route between Pyongyang and Moscow, which had been suspended during the pandemic.
The Wonsan Kalma resort, touted by KCNA as a landmark project and a "great, auspicious event," symbolizes hopes for a new era in tourism within North Korea. With its opening, observers are keen to see how it will affect foreign relations and tourism possibilities moving forward.
The Wonsan Kalma resort, located on the country's east coast, boasts accommodations for up to 20,000 guests across a 4-kilometer stretch of shoreline, complete with hotels, dining options, shopping centers, and a water park—assertions that remain unverified due to the regime's tightly controlled environment. The area is historically significant for Kim, who spent his youth in opulence in Wonsan, a locale favored by North Korea's elite.
Experts observe that the resort's opening might create a revenue stream for a country often criticized for prioritizing military expenditures over public welfare. Although the North has permitted limited foreign tour groups—mainly from China and Russia—international tourism faces significant challenges. Rowan Beard of Young Pioneer Tours expressed cautious optimism, noting that while Wonsan's opening is a step, it doesn’t signal a broader reopening to international travelers.
The pandemic had significantly curtailed tourist access since early 2020, with the situation only gradually improving from mid-2023. While some Western tourists returned briefly in early 2023, limitations were imposed shortly after, leading to skepticism regarding the Wonsan resort's appeal to international visitors. Some tour operators anticipate that initial foreign tourism will be largely directed towards Russian tourists, the only foreign nationals currently permitted in several areas.
Simultaneously, North Korea's partnership with Russia is seen as increasingly significant in the context of geopolitical sanctions. Recent cooperative efforts include the reinstatement of a direct passenger train route between Pyongyang and Moscow, which had been suspended during the pandemic.
The Wonsan Kalma resort, touted by KCNA as a landmark project and a "great, auspicious event," symbolizes hopes for a new era in tourism within North Korea. With its opening, observers are keen to see how it will affect foreign relations and tourism possibilities moving forward.
