North Korea Banking On Tourism, Opens Beach Resort

[RAMROD 116,991]

 

 

North Korea is opening a beach resort that its leader Kim Jong Un hopes will boost tourism in the secretive communist regime, state media reports.

Wonsan Kalma on the east coast will open to domestic tourists on 1 July, six years after it was due to be completed. It is unclear when it will welcome foreigners. 

Kim grew up in luxury in Wonsan, where many of the country's elite have private villas, and has been trying to transform the town, which once hosted a missile testing site.

State media KCNA claims the resort can accomodate up to 20,000 visitors, occupying a 4km (2.5 mile) stretch of beach, with hotels, restaurants, shopping malls and a water park - none of which can be verified.

Some observers say this is an easy way for Pyongyang to earn money. While foreign tourists are allowed in, tour groups largely tend to come from China and Russia, countries with whom Pyongyang has long maintained friendly relations.

Tourism from overseas took a hit during the Covid pandemic, though, with the country closing its borders in early 2020. It did not scale back restrictions until the middle of 2023 and welcomed Russian visitors a year later.

It opened to more Western visitors in February, when tourists from the UK, France, Germany and Australia drove across the border from China. It abruptly halted tourism weeks later without saying why.

Some tour agencies are sceptical of Wonsan's appeal to foreigners. It is "unlikely to be a major draw for most Western tourists", Mr Beard says. 

"Key sites like Pyongyang, the DMZ, and other brutalist or communist landmarks will continue to be the main highlights for international visitors once broader tourism resumes."

However, Elliott Davies, director of Uri Tours, says North Korea holds a "niche appeal" for travellers drawn to unconventional destinations.

"It's intriguing to experience something as familiar as a beach resort that's been shaped within the unique cultural context of North Korea."

KCNA described the Wonsan development as a "great, auspicious event of the whole country" and called it a "prelude to the new era" in tourism.

It was initially scheduled to open in October 2019, but ran into construction delays before the pandemic struck.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy0w59r54w9o.amp

[PartySick 172,384]

Gee can't wait to go

[dynamite 66,556]

Looks so picturesque!!!! 

[South Blonde 6,362]

the way this looks like an abandoned resort from the 80s already 

[Horny Chicken 10,932]

Are Chromatica thongs allowed?

Edit: never mind, heard it’s cold over there.

[garbage day 11,816]

I don't think there's a single person in either of those aerial photos. I wonder if they'll try to pay influencers to visit.

[Decodekid 30,621]

that looks ugly and cold 

[Sarah H 4,375]

Holiday from hell.

[Lord Mayhem 3,414]

Yay...i get to vacation alongside North Koreans, Russians, and Chinese while I tell them I came all the way from the USA...

[Ayesha Erotica 1,924]

It's not that bad that resort, but NK is among the 20 coldest countries in the world, so the climate just ain't that suitable. I still prefer Gran Canaria, good weather all year

Even the Chinese will prefer to go to Hainan or general South China, which is warmer. And the Russians will prefer Crimea, Sotchi or Caspian Sea.

If they allowed some kpop music, and made train connections to SK, they could milk some kpop girlies who can't afford hotel stays in SK but somehow want a Korean experience.

[AddMeOnMYSPACE 2,095]

I would really like to go 

Just because I would like to experience the atmosphere of a tyrannical dictatorship 

[Ziggy 14,009]

Looks lovely but are tourists allowed to visit?

[dit 46,738]

I know this is odd but I have an URGE to visit just to see what is going on. I have to investigate it myself 

[Decodekid 30,621]

18 minutes ago, AddMeOnMYSPACE said:

I would really like to go 

Just because I would like to experience the atmosphere of a tyrannical dictatorship 

no you don’t 

[TheARTPOPball 1,621]

It looks so unappealing 😭😭😭