North Korea Courts Russian Visitors to Lead Tourism Comeback After 3-Year Border Freeze
Pyongyang – After sealing borders throughout the pandemic, North Korea is set to reopen for international tourism starting February 2023 – and it’s looking to Russian adventurers to lead the revival. According to state-owned travel agencies, North Korea will resume accepting foreign visitors next month on group tours from Beijing. The itineraries promise glimpses of Pyongyang, Mt. Paekdu and other approved sites after a nearly 3-year freeze on leisure travel.
Eager Russian explorers are expected to account for a hefty portion of incoming visitors based on long-shared ties and geographical proximity facilitating travel. North Korean state tourism bureau chair Ahn Young-nam stated Russia will provide the country’s “main source of tourists.” While Western travelers face restrictions, Russians need only valid passports and visas to experience North Korea’s intriguing yet tightly-controlled attractions. Demand looks robust as Russia’s outbound wanderlust rebounds post-pandemic.
However, some nuances exist – tours remain restricted to capital Pyongyang with limited peeks inside everyday life. And North Korea’s rigid COVID protocols like mandatory quarantines could temper interest.
Yet the allure of this enigmatic sealed-off society still attracts history buffs, Soviet nostalgics and trailblazing travelers yearning to engage with locals. As tourism reawakens gradually, Russians are best-positioned to receive North Korea’s legendary hospitality on this cautiously opening frontier.
