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Tourism

North Korea Unveils Massive Resort Area on its East Coast

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

North Korea has officially opened its massive coastal tourist resort area, dubbed "North Korea's Waikiki", on its east coast, showcasing its potential as a major tourist destination. The Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Area, which can accommodate nearly 20,000 people, is the latest brainchild of leader Kim Jong Un's pet tourism project. The resort area has been designed to attract foreign visitors, with Russia expected to be the first country to welcome tourists next month. As part of Kim's efforts to boost the tourism industry, the coastal resort area has been developed with the aim of showcasing North Korea's rich cultural heritage and natural beauty.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Area has a capacity to accommodate nearly 20,000 people and features over 400 artistically designed buildings along a white sandy beach.
  • The resort area was developed by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as part of his tourism pet project, with a focus on showcasing the country's cultural heritage and natural beauty.
  • The coastal resort area has been opened to domestic visitors, with tourists from across the country flocking to the site to experience a "new level of civilization".
  • A group of Russian tourists is set to visit the zone on July 7, marking the first time international tourists will be visiting the resort area.
  • The construction of the site was described by Kim as "one of the greatest successes this year" and the North plans to build more large-scale tourist zones in the shortest time possible.
  • International tourism to the resort area is expected to remain small in scale, with estimates suggesting around 170 tourists per day due to limited flight capacity.
  • North Korea sees tourism as a key source of foreign currency, with the country reopening its borders in August 2023 after almost four years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
  • Western tourists faced restrictions before the pandemic, with only around 5,000 visiting per year, while Chinese tourists were allowed in larger numbers.

Statistics:

  • The Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Area has a capacity to accommodate nearly 20,000 people.
  • The resort area features over 400 artistically designed buildings along a white sandy beach.
  • North Korea's tourism industry aims to boost foreign currency income through tourism.
  • International tourism to the resort area is expected to remain small in scale, with estimates suggesting around 170 tourists per day.
  • Foreign tourists visited North Korea in limited numbers before the pandemic, with around 5,000 Western tourists per year.

Sources:

  • BSS (Bangladesh's official news agency), "North Korea Opens Massive Resort Area on East Coast" (Date not specified)
  • KCNA (North Korea's official news agency), "Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Area Opens to Domestic Visitors" (Date not specified)
  • Yonhap News Agency, "Russia to be first foreign country to visit North Korea's new resort area" (Date not specified)
  • Seoul's unification ministry, "Expectations for gradual expansion of tourist operations" (Date not specified)
  • BSS (Bangladesh's official news agency), "North Korea reopens borders after nearly 4 years" (Date not specified)

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