North Korea's long-delayed Wonsan-Kalma beach resort is set to welcome tourists in May 2025, leader Kim Jong Un announced during his visit to the east coast.
Started at the Beginning Development of this sprawling coastal tourist town faced several setbacks in 2018 as the original 2019 opening date was missed. The project was delayed and largely abandoned due to the pandemic. The resort, which covers 605 acres (245 hectares) and offers thousands of hotel rooms along a 3.5-mile (5.5-kilometer) white sand beach, is a major military project.
In recent months, some Russian tourists have was given an exclusive opportunity to tour the resort.
On Kim's first visit to Wonsan-Kalmu in more than five years, he noted that construction had reached its final stage. He met with senior officials to discuss final preparations needed to operate the resort ahead of its May 2025 opening. He stressed the need for high service standards and called for the creation of additional facilities such as an amusement park, leisure areas, proper waste management and training for maintenance workers.
State media has previously indicated Kim's interest in inviting tourists, especially from friendly countries such as Russia and China, to other tourist areas in the country, prompting speculation about whether Western tourists would be allowed in. The latest report outlines plans to expand foreign tourism in Wonsan after borders closed in January 2020 due to the pandemic began reopening about a year ago.
Kim stressed the importance of developing sports , entertainment and sightseeing tourism along the coast to position Wonsan-Kalma as a leading global destination.
If reports are to be believed, the scale of the project indicates a dual focus on both foreign and domestic tourists, given the significant the role of domestic tourism in North Korea. Although foreign tourists may not bring in significant revenue, their presence can help support the resort's operations.
Due to North Korea's strict regulations, foreign tourists in Wonsan Kalma are likely to be subject to under close surveillance and will be prohibited from leaving the resort area without official escort. Additionally, deteriorating relations between North and South Korea suggest that South Korean tourists, initially targeted at the start of the project, will likely not be allowed to visit the country.
Kim also identified other sites for potential tourism development, including Mount Kumgang, Mount Chilbo, Majeong, Gumya, Riwon and Yeombungjin.
Source: timesofindia
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