North Korea beach resort Wonsan-Kalma, the country’s largest and most high-profile coastal tourism site, is set to open next week, marking a major step in Pyongyang’s push to boost its tourism industry.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un hailed the resort’s completion as “one of the greatest successes this year” and “the proud first step” toward his government’s new direction of economic revival through tourism.
The Wonsan-Kalma beach resort can accommodate around 20,000 guests and features hotel accommodations, swimming facilities, sports and recreational activities, and various dining options. It will begin operations on Tuesday, initially catering to domestic tourists.
Although there is no official confirmation yet regarding its opening to global travelers, Russian officials have announced that the resort will be open to Russian citizens starting in July. The country is expected to eventually welcome Chinese and other foreign tourists, as part of its strategy to recover from budget limitations.
However, visitors from South Korea and the United States are unlikely to be granted access in the near future due to ongoing political tensions.
The North Korea beach resort launch is part of a broader vision by Kim to turn North Korea into a tourism hub, with more large-scale tourist developments reportedly underway in other regions of the country.
