North Korea opens the borders: Entry for tourists from December 2024!

North Korea opens the borders: Entry for tourists from December 2024!

After almost five years of isolation, foreign tourists are finally allowed to travel to North Korea again. The borders were closed due to the corona pandemic in early 2020, but travel agencies expect an opening in the larger style from December 2024. According to the information from Tagesschau Land resumed.

Simon Cockerell, General Manager of the Chinese Agency Koryo Tours, looks optimistically into the future. Koryo Tours has been organizing trips to North Korea for western tourists for over 30 years. Cockerell, who comes from Thornbury in Great Britain, was convinced at the beginning of the pandemic that North Korea could take the opportunity to expand its tourist offer. In his opinion, the tourism sector could offer an attractive perspective to make the country known to international travelers, reports Süddeutsche .

first signs of a revival

In the second half of 2023 there were already first signs of loosening the travel restrictions. International flights brought North Korean citizens back to the country, which is considered a signal for an upcoming change. Cockerell also expects good booking figures due to the high demand during pandemic.

ktg Tours, another provider, has also announced that Samjiyon can be approached again from winter 2024. This city, near the border with China, is described as a "highly civilized model city", which offers new apartments, hotels, a ski area and cultural facilities. Before the pandemic, North Korea attracted around 5,000 western tourists every year.

Russian tourists and political visits

The reopening of the country for tourism could be accelerated by the previous visits of Russian tourists in 2024. A group of Russian tourists was already in North Korea in February, and high -ranking politicians, including Vladimir Putin, visited the country in June 2024. In August 2024, Russian children also traveled to a holiday camp in North Korea, which illustrates the growing tourist relationships.

Overall, it turns out that North Korea endeavors to revive its tourism sector, while an opening for international visitors is being sought at the same time. The coming months should be decisive for how tourism will develop in the country.