North Korea’s Wonsan-Kalma beach resort has officially opened, offering water activities and attractions to a large number of domestic tourists. The site, which can accommodate nearly 20,000 people, is part of leader Kim Jong Un’s efforts to boost tourism as a way to improve the country’s struggling economy.
Despite the opening, prospects for the resort remain unclear due to the country’s restrictive travel policies and ongoing tensions with Western nations. North Korea has not fully reopened its borders to international tourists, and only small groups have visited recently, including Russian tourists who arrived in February 2024.
However, the Wonsan-Kalma resort is a significant step towards realizing the government’s tourism policy, according to Kim Jong Un. State media reported that domestic visitors enjoyed open water swimming, slides, and other attractions at the water park and various water activities in the area.
The resort’s future remains uncertain, but it marks an important development in North Korea’s efforts to develop its tourism industry.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-tourism-beach-resort-kim-1fe3d41501e93eb0c5a04dc2700a284b