Interpreted as a Response to Lower-than-Expected Demand
North Korea has recently announced that it will not accept foreign tourists at the Wonsan Galma Coastal Tourist Zone, which it has been actively promoting.
According to a notice on the website of the Korea International Travel Company, operated by North Korea's National Tourism Administration, the Galma Tourist Zone began operations on the 1st of this month. Although it was previously reported that foreign tourists had already started to be accepted, there was no explanation on the website regarding the sudden change in policy.
The British broadcaster BBC reported on the 12th that North Korea had recently welcomed its first group of foreign tourists, who were Russian nationals. According to a Russian travel agency contacted by the BBC, two additional tour packages are scheduled for August. From the 11th to the 13th, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov visited Wonsan accompanied by Russian journalists, met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, and toured the tourist facilities.
This news has brought global attention to Wonsan. On the 16th (local time), Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, appeared on Sputnik Radio and praised the Wonsan Galma resort as a fantastic vacation destination, stating that all the facilities are perfect.
However, North Korea's sudden announcement that it will temporarily stop accepting foreign tourists is seen as a move to address lower-than-expected demand.
According to the BBC, a week-long trip to North Korea, including three days at the Wonsan Galma Coastal Tourist Zone, costs about $1,800 (approximately 2.48 million won). This is about 60% higher than the average monthly wage of a Russian worker. It is also possible that the decision was made because areas for improvement were identified during the roughly two weeks of operation.
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