I have seen plenty of Chinese tourists in the DPRK, all gambling in Stanley Ho’s casino in the basement of the Yangakdo Hotel, but apparently China has eased regulations on traveling to the DPRK.
According to Reuters:
China has officially recognized North Korea as a tourist destination for Chinese tour groups, the Xinhua News agency said on Tuesday, quoting Chinese tourism authorities.
North Korean tourism agencies will also be allowed to open representative offices in the northeastern Chinese city of Shenyang, it said.
Chinese individuals were allowed to travel to North Korea on tourism visas as recently as four years ago, but regulations were subsequently changed. However, Chinese tourists have continued to visit North Korea in small groups.
China is the main trading partner with North Korea, whose closed economy faces the risk of famine in the next 14 months following several years of poor harvests.
In 2009, the two countries will celebrate their 60th year of mutual diplomatic recognition.
Read the full article here:
China designates North Korea a tourist destination
Reuters
Lucy Hornby
9/2/2008
