Foreign tourism in DPRK Increases by 20% in first half of 2014

Institute for Far Eastern Studies (IFES)
2014-7-25

The number of foreign tourists visiting North Korea in the first half of 2014 has increased by 20 percent compared to the previous year. The Choson Sinbo, a news outlet affiliated with the pro-North Korean General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, reported the following on July 15: “The amount of foreigners looking to visit Choson (North Korea) is continuing to increase. . . . [and] according to Choson International Travel Agency President Ham Jin, the number of foreign tourists has increased by 20 percent over the previous year in just the first six months of 2014.” The Choson Sinbo, however, did not release detailed information of the total number of visitors.

The article mentions tour-package diversity as the secret to the recent increase in foreign visitors, saying, “Since the beginning of the year, the recently opened Masikryong Ski Resort has been well received by skiing and hiking enthusiasts.” It also mentions that “Military enthusiasts are also showing interest in the Korean People’s Army Exhibition of Arms and Equipment, the Jonsung Revolutionary Museum, and other military-related locations.”

The Choson Sinbo also mentioned the recent surge in popularity for railroad enthusiasts to visit Pyongyang and experience the subways and railroads. Furthermore, president Ham Jin was also quoted as saying, “In the future, tourism packages will be created to cater to surfing enthusiasts and badminton enthusiasts.”

North Korea has decided to cancel this year’s “Arirang” mass games, a large-scale performance which previously accounted for a hefty share of the nation’s tourism revenue. Instead, the country will focus on the development of new tourist attractions. The DPRK has already established a travel agency that will oversee the visitation of the world’s Taekwondo athletes, and is promoting “tent tourism” in beach areas to attract Chinese tourists to various beaches in Rason city.

On July 14, 2014, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) introduced camping areas, touting the move as a “novel idea at the height of its popularity,” saying, “many tourists are enjoying swimming, taking walks, and fishing as they spend their afternoons and evenings in tents along the long sandy beaches in Rason.”

Rason, which has been designated as a special economic zone (SEZ), is renowned for its beautiful beaches in Chujin and Pipha Island and other locations frequently visited by Chinese tourists in the summer.

According to the KCNA, “Rason International Travel Agency has collaborated with Yanbian Spring International Travel Agency of Jilin Province in China to open a two-night, three-day camping event which took place from July 12th to the 14th.” At the event, it was said that Chinese tourists visited downtown Rason City during the day, and returned to the beach in the evening to pitch their tents, swim and enjoy freshly grilled squid and mussels.

Along with the opening of the “Rason-Yanji Angling Tourists’ Festival” on June 28, 2014, North Korea has been focusing on the Rason area, churning out a slew of new activities easily accessible to Chinese tourists.

Here is coverage in Yonhap:

“The number of foreigners visiting the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) is continuing to increase,” said the Chosun Shinbo. It quoted Ham Jin, head of the (North) Korea International Travel Agency, as saying the figure jumped 20 percent on-year during the January-June period.

But the newspaper did not reveal how many foreign tourists visited the reclusive country during the six-month period.

The newspaper said the country’s new ski resort in Masikryong has grown popular among foreigners, along with mountaineering courses and military-related tourist spots.

The lavish resort, opened in January this year, is one of the pet projects of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un who reportedly enjoyed skiing while attending school in Switzerland in the early 1990s.

Read the full story here:
Number of foreign tourists to N. Korea jumps 20 pct in H1
Yonhap
2014-7-15

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