Latest news with #NationalTourismAdministration
India Today
5 days ago
- Business
- India Today
North Korea bans foreigners from 'world class' beach resort weeks after opening
North Korea has barred foreigners from a newly opened beach resort, the country's tourism administration said this week, just days after Russia's top diplomat visited the sprawling seaside resort on its east coast, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's pet project, opened to domestic visitors earlier this month with great fanfare in state-run "North Korea's Waikiki" by South Korean media, the Wonsan-Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone appears to be lined with high-rise hotels and waterparks, and can purportedly accommodate some 20,000 State media previously said visits to Wonsan by Russian tour groups were expected in the coming following Lavrov's visit, the North's National Tourism Administration said "foreign tourists are temporarily not being accepted" without giving further details, in a statement posted on an official website this showed a keen interest in developing North Korea's tourism industry during his early years in power, analysts have said, and the coastal resort area was a particular said ahead of the opening of the beach resort that the construction of the site would go down as "one of the greatest successes this year" and that the North would build more large-scale tourist zones "in the shortest time possible".The North last year permitted Russian tourists to return for the first time since the pandemic and Western tour operators briefly returned in February this unification ministry, however, said that it expected international tourism to the new resort was "likely to remain small in scale" given the limited capacity of available held talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Wonsan last week where he offered Moscow his full and "unconditional" support for its war in Ukraine, KCNA reportedly hailed the seaside project as a "good tourist attraction", adding it would become popular among both local and Russian visitors looking for new destinations. Ahead of Lavrov's recent visit, Russia announced that it would begin twice-a-week flights between Moscow and Pyongyang.- Ends
The Star
6 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Foreigners barred from beach resort after Russian diplomat's trip to site
THE Hermit Kingdom has suspended foreigners' access to a newly opened beach resort on its east coast, just days after Russia's top diplomat visited the area and vowed to help increase tourist flows to the isolated country. North Korea's National Tourism Administration said the Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Area that began operations this month is temporarily not accepting foreign guests, without elaborating. The beach resort is one of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's pet projects. Kim has a private mansion on the coast, and during construction of the facilities he often visited the site to oversee progress on a project that features about 7,000 guest rooms in luxury hotels and private villas, an outdoor waterpark and an airport, according to state media. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visited the resort town during his recent North Korea trip in which he met with Kim on the leader's yacht. Lavrov said at a meeting with his North Korean counterpart in Wonsan that Russia will 'do everything' to expand the flow of Russian tourists to North Korea. Tourism is a key revenue source for the sanctions-hit Kim regime but the country has been allowing only a trickle of inbound tourists from Russia since it began easing its pandemic border restrictions. North Korean authorities keep close tabs on overseas visitors, who are usually required to stay at lodgings designated for use by foreigners and restricted in their movements in the country. It's not immediately clear why North Korea decided to restrict foreigners' access to the resort area, but some analysts say there's more work to be done on the project. 'The resort is undoubtedly open, but it's not quite finished yet,' the 38 North programme at the Stimson Center said, citing satellite imagery. 'One of the largest buildings at the resort, a hotel near the Kalmaegi Hotel, does not appear to be in use. There is little activity nearby and the rooftop pool has yet to be filled with water.' Lavrov's latest visit took place less than a month after Pyongyang agreed at a June meeting between Kim and Sergei Shoigu to send an additional 6,000 military workers to the Kursk region. Shoigu is Putin's top security aide and a former Russian defence minister. — Bloomberg
Edmonton Journal
6 days ago
- Business
- Edmonton Journal
North Korea bars foreign tourists from new seaside resort
Article content Seoul (AFP) — North Korea has barred foreigners from a newly opened beach resort, the country's tourism administration said this week, just days after Russia's top diplomat visited the area. Article content The sprawling seaside resort on its east coast, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's pet project, opened to domestic visitors earlier this month with great fanfare in state-run media. Article content Article content Article content Dubbed 'North Korea's Waikiki' by South Korean media, the Wonsan-Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone appears to be lined with high-rise hotels and waterparks, and can purportedly accommodate some 20,000 people. Article content Article content But following Lavrov's visit, the North's National Tourism Administration said 'foreign tourists are temporarily not being accepted' without giving further details, in a statement posted on an official website this week. Article content Kim showed a keen interest in developing North Korea's tourism industry during his early years in power, analysts have said, and the coastal resort area was a particular focus. Article content He said ahead of the opening of the beach resort that the construction of the site would go down as 'one of the greatest successes this year' and that the North would build more large-scale tourist zones 'in the shortest time possible'. Article content Article content Seoul's unification ministry, however, said that it expected international tourism to the new resort was 'likely to remain small in scale' given the limited capacity of available flights. Article content Article content Kim held talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Wonsan last week where he offered Moscow his full and 'unconditional' support for its war in Ukraine, KCNA reported. Article content Lavrov reportedly hailed the seaside project as a 'good tourist attraction,' adding it would become popular among both local and Russian visitors looking for new destinations. Article content Ahead of Lavrov's recent visit, Russia announced that it would begin twice-a-week flights between Moscow and Pyongyang.
National Post
6 days ago
- Business
- National Post
North Korea bars foreign tourists from new seaside resort
Article content Seoul (AFP) — North Korea has barred foreigners from a newly opened beach resort, the country's tourism administration said this week, just days after Russia's top diplomat visited the area. Article content The sprawling seaside resort on its east coast, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's pet project, opened to domestic visitors earlier this month with great fanfare in state-run media. Article content Article content Article content Dubbed 'North Korea's Waikiki' by South Korean media, the Wonsan-Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone appears to be lined with high-rise hotels and waterparks, and can purportedly accommodate some 20,000 people. Article content Article content But following Lavrov's visit, the North's National Tourism Administration said 'foreign tourists are temporarily not being accepted' without giving further details, in a statement posted on an official website this week. Article content Kim showed a keen interest in developing North Korea's tourism industry during his early years in power, analysts have said, and the coastal resort area was a particular focus. Article content He said ahead of the opening of the beach resort that the construction of the site would go down as 'one of the greatest successes this year' and that the North would build more large-scale tourist zones 'in the shortest time possible'. Article content The North last year permitted Russian tourists to return for the first time since the pandemic and Western tour operators briefly returned in February this year. Article content Seoul's unification ministry, however, said that it expected international tourism to the new resort was 'likely to remain small in scale' given the limited capacity of available flights. Article content Article content Article content Kim held talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Wonsan last week where he offered Moscow his full and 'unconditional' support for its war in Ukraine, KCNA reported. Article content Lavrov reportedly hailed the seaside project as a 'good tourist attraction,' adding it would become popular among both local and Russian visitors looking for new destinations. Article content
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
6 days ago
- Business
- First Post
North Korea's new tourist zone off-limits to foreigners amid Russia flights boost
Following Lavrov's visit, the North's National Tourism Administration said 'foreign tourists are temporarily not being accepted' without giving further details, in a statement posted on an official website this week read more North Korea has blocked foreigners from visiting a recently opened beach resort, the country's tourist office announced this week, only days after Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visited the area. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's favourite project, a vast coastal resort on the country's east coast, opened to domestic guests earlier this month to much fanfare in official media. The Wonsan-Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone, nicknamed 'North Korea's Waikiki' by South Korean media, seems to be lined with high-rise hotels and waterparks and can reportedly accommodate up to 20,000 people. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Previously, state media reported that Russian tour groups will visit Wonsan in the following months. But following Lavrov's visit, the North's National Tourism Administration said 'foreign tourists are temporarily not being accepted' without giving further details, in a statement posted on an official website this week. Kim showed a keen interest in developing North Korea's tourism industry during his early years in power, analysts have said, and the coastal resort area was a particular focus. He said ahead of the opening of the beach resort that the construction of the site would go down as 'one of the greatest successes this year' and that the North would build more large-scale tourist zones 'in the shortest time possible'. The North last year permitted Russian tourists to return for the first time since the pandemic and Western tour operators briefly returned in February this year. Seoul's unification ministry, however, said that it expected international tourism to the new resort was 'likely to remain small in scale' given the limited capacity of available flights. Kim held talks with Lavrov in Wonsan last week where he offered Moscow his full and 'unconditional' support for its war in Ukraine, KCNA reported. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Lavrov reportedly hailed the seaside project as a 'good tourist attraction', adding it would become popular among both local and Russian visitors looking for new destinations. Ahead of Lavrov's recent visit, Russia announced that it would begin twice-a-week flights between Moscow and Pyongyang.
