North Korea will open its borders, which have been closed since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, to tourists from other countries for the first time in almost five years. This is reported by Bloomberg, writes UNN.
Details
Two major tour operators for foreign visitors said on Wednesday that they had received notifications from their partners in North Korea that the opening of travel will begin in December 2024. Initially, tours will take place in Samjiyon, near the border with China, and then likely throughout the country, according to a statement from Koryo Tours.
KTG Tours company also posted on social media that visitors will be able to go to Samjiyon this winter.
The regime of Kim Jong-un began to ease border restrictions about a year ago, but did not open up to tourist groups, which once were a source of cash for the state with meager foreign currency reserves. These tourists provided funds that helped the country conduct transactions abroad, while it remains cut off from international banking services.
The North Korean authorities closely monitor foreign tourists, who are usually only allowed to stay in accommodation designated for foreigners and are restricted in their movement around the country.
It is reported that earlier this year, North Korea allowed a small number of tourists from Russia to enter.