North Korea Temporarily Closes Borders to Western Tourists Again
North Korea has temporarily closed its borders to Western tourists just three weeks after reopening, following five years of restrictions. Travel agencies confirm the suspension and express uncertainty. Plans for the Pyongyang International Marathon may be hampered, raising concerns about recovering pre-pandemic tourism levels due to strict government control.
North Korea has once again closed its borders to Western group tourists just three weeks after allowing them entry for the first time in five years. This closure was confirmed by Korea Tour, a British-owned travel agency based in Beijing, which announced on its social media pages that Rason tourism has been temporarily suspended. They expressed their uncertainty regarding the situation and promised to provide updates as information becomes available.
Simon Corkorell, head of Koryo Tour, assured that tourists currently in North Korea would complete their planned journeys. Another travel agency, Young Pioneer Tour, also acknowledged the suspension of Rason tourism based on communication from partners, while KTG Tour from Spain expressed a lack of understanding about the reasons or duration of the closure.
North Korea initially sealed its borders in January 2020 to mitigate COVID-19 risks. In September 2023, they began permitting foreign entry again, albeit mainly for tourists from Russia. However, Western tourists were welcomed in Rason’s special economic zone at the end of last month, receiving positive feedback from travelers from France, Germany, and Britain.
The Koryo Tour had also announced plans for amateur participants in the upcoming Pyongyang International Marathon scheduled for the 6th of next month, promoting a tour package priced at 2,195 euros. The recent developments suggested a potential revival of tourism in North Korea with this event, but the sudden halt has caused uncertainty within the industry.
In commentary from NK News, experts highlighted concerns over North Korean tourism’s ability to return to pre-pandemic levels, citing the regime’s strict control over external information to prevent ideological influence. This situation adds another layer of complexity to the current state of North Korean tourism.
North Korea’s abrupt closure of tourism for Western groups, just weeks after reopening, has raised concerns about the country’s tourism future. The suspension follows a brief period of welcoming tourists and poses significant uncertainty for travel agencies. Expert opinions suggest that recovery to pre-COVID tourism levels may be complicated by the regime’s tight grip on external information, reflecting ongoing ideological apprehensions.
Original Source: www.mk.co.kr
