For the first time in five years, North Korea has allowed staff from Western travel agencies to enter. This move raises speculation about the full resumption of tourism.
Koryo Tours and Young Pioneer Tours (YPT) announced on February 13 that they had crossed the Chinese border into North Korea’s Rason Special Economic Zone. This marks the first time North Korea has welcomed Western visitors since February 2023, when Russian tourists were allowed to enter.
Koryo Tours stated that they plan to discuss future cooperation with local partners, inspect new tourist sites, and gather updated information on North Korean tourism. YPT also emphasized that the visit aims to coordinate logistics for group tours and strengthen partnerships for future international tourism.
Recent Tour Cancellations Raise Questions
Last month, Koryo Tours and YPT announced plans to reopen Rason for tours in mid-February. However, on February 11, both agencies abruptly canceled their scheduled tours. During this visit, the agencies plan to investigate the reasons behind the sudden cancellations.
Koryo Tours clarified that the current visit is limited to staff. Regular tourists are still unable to enter North Korea. However, the agency expressed hope that a final decision on Rason’s reopening would be made in the coming days or weeks.
Despite the uncertainty, Koryo Tours has begun accepting reservations for Rason tours in March and April. The agency warned travelers to be cautious about booking flights, as the tours are not yet fully confirmed.
YPT also stated that they are in discussions with North Korean officials to finalize the timeline for group tour resumption.
Is Full-Scale Tourism in North Korea Near?
The fact that major North Korea-focused travel agencies are engaging in talks with Pyongyang suggests that a phased reopening, starting with Rason, may be on the horizon.
Korea Konsult, a Sweden-based travel agency specializing in North Korean tours, recently told Radio Free Asia (RFA) that interest from European travelers remains high. “Tourism has been suspended since January 2020 due to the pandemic. Many people are waiting to visit North Korea,” a Korea Konsult representative said. “We are receiving inquiries from Sweden, Germany, France, Poland, Italy, and the UK.”
While no official announcement has been made, North Korea’s recent steps signal that tourism may soon resume, at least in limited capacity.
BY YOUNGNAM KIM [kim.youngnam@koreadaily.com]
