Russian Tourists Could be the First to Visit North Korea Since the Pandemic
A group of Russian tourists may become the first international travelers to visit North Korea since the country closed its borders in January 2020 due to the global COVID-19 lockdown. The ski trip, which is scheduled for February and is being advertised by a Vladivostok-based Russian tour agency, has surprised many who expected China to be the first country to send tourists to North Korea after the pandemic.
The four-day trip, organized by Vostok Intur tour agency, is set to start on February 9th and costs 0 per person. The group of tourists from Russia’s Primorye region will first fly to Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea. There, they will have the opportunity to visit important monuments such as the «Tower of Juche Idea,» which is named after the country’s guiding philosophy of self-reliance.
After their visit to Pyongyang, the tourists will travel to Masik Pass, located on North Korea’s east coast. This area is home to the country’s most modern ski resort. According to the tour agency, Masik Pass offers slopes of varying difficulty levels suitable for both experienced skiers and beginners.
Boosting Economic Ties
The ski trip was arranged under an agreement between Oleg Kozhemyako, governor of the Primorye region, and North Korean authorities. Kozhemyako visited Pyongyang in December to discuss tourism, agriculture, and trade cooperation. This visit highlights Kim Jong Un’s efforts to strengthen partnerships with Russia and suggests that North Korea and Russia will expand their cooperation in various sectors.
Before the pandemic, Chinese tourists accounted for about 90% of all international visitors to North Korea, making them a significant source of revenue for the country. While the return of Chinese tourists is expected to have a more substantial financial impact, the arrival of Russian tourists may still provide some economic benefits to North Korea.
However, it remains uncertain how quickly North Korea will expand its international tourism due to Kim Jong Un’s tightening control over the country’s population and the ongoing economic hardships and security tensions with the United States. Additionally, North Korea, with its limited public health infrastructure, is likely to maintain caution regarding the risk of infectious diseases.
Experts predict that North Korea will gradually and cautiously open its borders to international tourists, as the Kim regime sees them as both potential sources of economic benefits and ideological risks.
In 2019, North Korea welcomed a record number of around 300,000 foreign tourists, generating an estimated million to 0 million in revenue. However, it remains to be seen how the country’s tourism industry will recover and develop in the post-pandemic era.
Overall, the ski trip organized for Russian tourists in February signifies a potential reopening of North Korea’s borders to international travel and presents an opportunity for the country to revive its economy through tourism.
