North Korea welcomes back tourism with new beach resort opening
- The Wonsan-Kalma coastal tourist area was officially inaugurated on July 2, 2025.
- It can accommodate around 20,000 visitors and offers various recreational activities.
- The resort's success is uncertain due to ongoing international travel restrictions.
North Korea has officially opened the Wonsan-Kalma coastal tourist area, enhancing its effort to attract tourists to boost its economy. The inauguration, which took place on July 2, 2025, was celebrated by a significant number of local citizens who enjoyed various activities at the resort. The complex, located on the eastern coast, features facilities for swimming, water slides, and other recreational amenities designed to accommodate around 20,000 people. It is seen as a crucial step in North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's plan to develop tourism as a key economic driver for the nation. Despite the grand opening, the resort's future success remains uncertain. North Korea has maintained strict travel restrictions due to the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, limiting foreign tourism since early 2020. Although the country has recently allowed a small number of Russian tourists to visit, overall international visitor numbers are far below pre-pandemic levels. Most foreign tourists previously came from China, which accounted for over 90% before the border closure. Leader Kim Jong Un praised the resort as one of the greatest achievements of the year, aiming to cultivate a unique tourism culture within the country. While the beach resort's facilities were enjoyed during the opening event, there are considerable concerns regarding the feasibility of maintaining tourist numbers given the limited international access. With fewer than 1,000 Russian tourists reported to have visited last year, economic dependence on a small group of visitors poses significant challenges. Moreover, the recent geopolitical tensions and ongoing military cooperation between North Korea and Russia complicate the potential for broadening the tourism market. While the Wonsan-Kalma resort symbolizes North Korea's ambitions for economic growth through tourism, its success hinges on the country's ability to effectively reopen and promote itself as a safe and attractive destination for foreign visitors in the future.