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

North Korea opens its 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 at the beginning of 2020 due to the corona pandemic, but travel agencies expect them to open on a larger scale from December 2024. According to information from daily news Tourism will initially resume in the city of Samjiyon in the northeast of the country.

Simon Cockerell, general manager of the Chinese agency Koryo Tours, is optimistic about the future. Koryo Tours has been organizing trips to North Korea for Western tourists for over 30 years. Cockerell, who is from Thornbury in the UK, was convinced at the start of the pandemic that North Korea could take advantage of the opportunity to expand its tourism offerings. In his opinion, the tourism sector could offer an attractive prospect for re-promoting the country among international travelers, reports South Germans.

First signs of revival

In the second half of 2023 there were already the first signs of an easing of travel restrictions. International flights brought North Korean citizens back to the country, seen as a signal of impending change. Cockerell also expects good booking numbers due to high demand during the pandemic.

KTG Tours, another operator, has also announced that Samjiyon will be open again from winter 2024. This city, near the border with China, is described as a "highly civilized model city" offering new apartments, hotels, a ski resort and cultural facilities. Before the pandemic, North Korea attracted about 5,000 Western tourists annually.

Russian tourists and political visits

The country's reopening to tourism could be accelerated by the visits of Russian tourists so far in 2024. A group of Russian tourists visited 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 North Korea for a holiday camp, demonstrating growing tourist ties.

Overall, North Korea is looking to revitalize its tourism sector while opening up to international visitors. The coming months are likely to be crucial for how tourism develops in the country.