Targeting Foreign Currency Earnings with Russian Tourists in Mind
Recently Invited Russian Journalists to the Site
Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, has stepped up efforts in the tourism industry. It appears to be aimed at earning foreign currency, keeping in mind attracting Russian tourists.
According to the Korean Central News Agency on the 18th, Chairman Kim visited the construction site of the Wonsan-Galma Coastal Tourist Zone on the 16th and provided on-site guidance. Although construction was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is presumed that work resumed after the endemic phase. The agency explained that Kim held a meeting with accompanying officials to discuss practical issues for opening the tourist zone by May next year.
Chairman Kim stated, "The national treasure-level marine park, which will proudly establish itself as our country's most famous tourist destination in the world, must be splendidly built so that Myeongsasipri will soon become Wonsan's pride and gain an attractive reputation with crowds stretching for ten ri," emphasizing the long-term expansion and development of tourism based on the experience of constructing the Wonsan-Galma Coastal Tourist Zone. Officials accompanying him included Premier Kim Deok-hoon, Party Organization Secretary Jo Yong-won, Party Secretaries Ri Il-hwan, Kim Jae-ryong, Park Tae-sung, Deputy Premier Park Jeong-geun, Minister of National Defense Kang Sun-nam, Chief of the General Political Bureau of the People's Army Jeong Gyeong-taek, and Deputy Director of the Workers' Party Kim Yo-jong.
North Korea has been developing the Wonsan-Galma Coastal Tourist Zone to utilize tourism resources such as 'Myeongsasipri,' a long white sandy beach on the Wonsan-Galma Peninsula. It is a large-scale beach resort complex. This is one of the long-cherished projects of the Kim Jong-un regime, and he has visited the construction site several times in the past.
North Korea initially began developing the tourist zone in 2014, aiming to complete it by April 15, 2019, Kim Il-sung's birthday, but the completion date was repeatedly delayed due to difficulties in procuring materials caused by international sanctions. Furthermore, construction was effectively halted after 2020 due to the spread of COVID-19.
The fact that Chairman Kim has newly ordered the opening in May next year after the pandemic ended can be seen as a sign that momentum is returning to the coastal tourist zone construction. Given that Russian journalists were recently invited to the site, it also appears to reflect the close North Korea-Russia ties.
Chairman Kim has been actively encouraging the tourism industry, including visiting the development site of Samjiyon City in Yanggang Province on the 11th and 12th to discuss plans for a large-scale ski tourism resort utilizing Mount Paektu as a tourism resource. Since this sector is relatively less affected by international sanctions, there are speculations that North Korea is accelerating the development of the tourism industry as a means to earn foreign currency, with an eye on attracting Russian tourists in the future.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
