Tour Packages to Be Launched Next Month
After the COVID-19 pandemic, employees of Western travel agencies entered North Korea to resume tourism.
A view of the North Korean Geumgangsan separated families reunion center from the Oegumgang Hotel. Photo by Yonhap News
On the 13th (local time), NK News, a U.S.-based North Korea specialist media outlet, reported that representatives from two Western travel agencies, Koryo Tours and Young Pioneer Tours, crossed the Chinese border and entered the Rason Economic Zone in North Korea.
Koryo Tours wrote on their blog, "After five years of the North Korean border being closed to tourists due to COVID-19, we have finally entered North Korea," adding, "We will be confirming new tourist attractions in Rason and checking updates related to North Korean tourism." They also expressed hope, saying, "We expect to share positive news within a few days or weeks." Koryo Tours is currently accepting reservations for North Korea trips scheduled for next month and April.
Rowan Beard, co-founder of Young Pioneer Tours, said, "The purpose of this visit is to ensure that all preparations on the North Korean side are in place so that group tourists can enter as soon as possible." Young Pioneer Tours is selling a travel package on their website for a 4-night, 5-day tour of the Rason Economic Zone starting from the 2nd of next month, priced at 645 euros (approximately 974,000 KRW).
North Korea completely closed its borders in January 2020 to prevent the spread of COVID-19 but has recently partially lifted the restrictions.
NK News explained, "Although the Rason Economic Zone itself has not attracted much attention as a tourist destination aside from its proximity to the Chinese and Russian borders, from the North Korean authorities' perspective, it can be a place that helps earn foreign currency while controlling contact between residents and foreigners."
Previously, Young Pioneer Tours and Koryo Tours reported that North Korea decided to open the Rason Economic Zone to tourists from most countries except the United States and South Korea starting from the 16th of last month.
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