North Korea has temporarily shut its tourism to Western groups three weeks after reopening, with agencies reporting the situation as unprecedented. Travelers already in the country can complete their journeys, but uncertainty looms over the future of tourism, which had only recently begun to recover from a long lockdown due to COVID-19.
North Korea has faced another tourism shutdown just three weeks after reopening to Western group tourists, marking the first acceptance of such visitors in five years. According to AFP, Korea Tour, a travel agency based in Beijing, reported on its social media that Rason tourism is temporarily closed, describing the situation as unprecedented and vowing to provide updates as they arise.
Travelers currently in North Korea are allowed to complete their planned journeys, confirmed Simon Corkorell of Koryo Tour. Another agency, Young Pioneer Tour, also supported reports of the temporary suspension, while KTG Tour indicated uncertainty about the duration of this closure.
Since January 2020, North Korea has kept its borders closed to prevent COVID-19, issuing limited access to foreigners starting in September 2023, primarily from Russia. Recently, Rason’s special economic zone began welcoming Western tourists with positive media reviews from visitors.
The Koryo Tour had planned to recruit participants for an upcoming international marathon in Pyongyang, further signifying a push to rejuvenate tourism with a €2,195 tour package. However, the recent suspension has disrupted these optimistic forecasts and disappointed many in the tourism sector.
Experts cited by NK News noted concerns over whether North Korean tourism can rebound to pre-pandemic levels, citing the regime’s fear of external information and ideological contamination as potential hindrances to recovery.
The recent temporary closure of North Korean tourism highlights the immense challenges the country faces in reviving its tourism industry following years of isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite prior openings and hopeful plans like the international marathon, uncertainties persist about the long-term sustainability of tourism in North Korea, compounded by governmental restrictions on external communication.
Original Source: www.mk.co.kr
