Latest news with #VostokIntur
The Star
09-08-2025
- The Star
Russian agency begins attracting tourists to North Korea's new beach resort
North Koreans play on a beach at the Wonsan-Kalma tourist area on the North's east coast on July 1, in this photo released by the North's official Korean Central News Agency the next day. - Photo: Yonhap PYONGYANG: A Russian travel agency has begun promoting tours for foreign visitors to North Korea's new beach resort, its website showed Saturday (Aug 9), following a period during which entry for foreign nationals had been temporarily suspended. Vostok Intur, a Vladivostok-based travel agency, announced on its website that it will offer all-inclusive packages for travel to the Kalma resort in Wonsan from Aug 25 to Sept 1. On the first day, it said, travellers will take a bus from Vladivostok to Russia's Khasan Station, then transfer to a train and enter North Korea via the Tumen River Station, before heading to the tourist zone. The seven-night, eight-day package includes accommodation at a four-star hotel, all meals, and a Russian-speaking tour guide. For groups of three to five people, the price is US$1,250 per person plus an additional 20,000 rubles (about US$250), amounting to roughly $1,500 per person, according to the agency. Larger groups receive discounted rates. The agency described the tour as a unique opportunity to experience North Korea's culture and history, largely untouched by Western influence. North Korea opened the Kalma beach resort on July 1 but abruptly suspended foreign tourist entry on July 18, sparking speculation that the halt was to address shortcomings discovered during its trial operation. - Yonhap
Korea Herald
09-08-2025
- Korea Herald
Russian agency begins attracting tourists to N. Korea's new beach resort
A Russian travel agency has begun promoting tours for foreign visitors to North Korea's new beach resort, its website showed Saturday, following a period during which entry for foreign nationals had been temporarily suspended. Vostok Intur, a Vladivostok-based travel agency, announced on its website that it will offer all-inclusive packages for travel to the Kalma resort in Wonsan from Aug. 25 to Sept. 1. On the first day, it said, travelers will take a bus from Vladivostok to Russia's Khasan Station, then transfer to a train and enter North Korea via the Tumen River Station, before heading to the tourist zone. The seven-night, eight-day package includes accommodation at a four-star hotel, all meals, and a Russian-speaking tour guide. For groups of three to five people, the price is US$1,250 per person plus an additional 20,000 rubles (about US$250), amounting to roughly $1,500 per person, according to the agency. Larger groups receive discounted rates. The agency described the tour as a unique opportunity to experience North Korea's culture and history, largely untouched by Western influence. North Korea opened the Kalma beach resort on July 1 but abruptly suspended foreign tourist entry on July 18, sparking speculation that the halt was to address shortcomings discovered during its trial operation. (Yonhap)
Mint
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
North Korea's Kim Jong-Un opens luxury beach resort with 54 hotels, cinema, beer pubs; Here's what it offers
The Wonsan Kalma coastal resort zone is now open in North Korea, following nearly seven years of construction, according to state media reports on Thursday. It features 54 hotels, cinema, beer pubs among others. Kim Jong Un, more often seen overseeing missile tests, was seen promoting the destination alongside his family. Calling the resort one of the country's 'greatest feats' of the year, Kim watched the celebrations while seated with his daughter, Kim Ju-ae, and his wife, Ri Sol-ju. Dressed in a dark suit, white shirt, and tie, departing from his usual Mao-style attire, Kim oversaw the festivities at the resort. Stretching across three miles (5 km) of coastline on the Kalma Peninsula, the resort features hundreds of facilities, including 54 hotels, a large indoor and outdoor waterpark, a mini-golf course, a movie theater, several shopping malls, dozens of restaurants, five beer pubs, and two video game arcades, according to a guide map located at its northern entrance. Construction on the project began in early 2018 but faced delays due to setbacks and the COVID-19 pandemic. The resort is set to open to domestic tourists on July 1. Although foreign visitors are still barred from entering the country under COVID-era restrictions, Russian travel agency Vostok Intur has organized a week-long tour starting July 7, according to the resort's website. The itinerary includes a flight from Pyongyang to Wonsan on July 8, a four-night stay at the beach resort, followed by one night at the nearby Masikryong ski resort, and concludes with a day of sightseeing back in the capital.
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First Post
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- First Post
North Korea opens new beach resort to promote tourism but keeps it exclusive for Russians
Hailing the resort as the country's 'greatest feats' of the year, Kim oversaw revellers at the resort as he sat with his daughter, Kim Ju-ae, and his wife, Ri Sol-ju, in a dark suit, white shirt and tie, a break from his traditional Mao suit read more North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his daughter Kim Ju Ae watch a person sliding down a slide during a ceremony to celebrate the completion of the Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone, in Wonsan, North Korea, June 24, 2025. North Korea has a new beach resort, and Kim Jong Un, who usually brandishes missiles, was seen promoting the holiday destination, accompanied by his family. State media reported on Thursday that the Wonsan Kalma beach resort zone is officially open after nearly seven years of construction. Hailing the resort as the country's 'greatest feats' of the year, Kim oversaw revellers at the resort as he sat with his daughter, Kim Ju-ae, and his wife, Ri Sol-ju, in a dark suit, white shirt and tie, a break from his traditional Mao suit. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD After cutting the ribbon at the opening ceremony, Kim hailed the project as a 'brilliant reality,' realised after more than a decade of effort and escalating construction costs. He said it would 'play a leading role in shaping North Korea's tourist culture.' According to KCNA, Kim inaugurated the resort alongside Russian Ambassador Alexander Matsegora as his special guest earlier this week. About the resort Spanning three miles (5 km) of beachfront on the Kalma Peninsula, the resort includes hundreds of structures—among them 54 hotels, a large outdoor and indoor waterpark, a mini-golf course, movie theater, multiple shopping malls, dozens of restaurants, five beer pubs, and two video game arcades, according to a guide map at the northern entrance. The project began in early 2018 but encountered construction setbacks and was further delayed by the pandemic. The resort will open to domestic tourists on July 1. Although no foreign tourists are allowed in the country owing to Covid-era restrictions, Russian tour company Vostok Intur has arranged a week-long trip for a group of travellers on July 7, according to the resort's website. Their itinerary includes flying from Pyongyang to Wonsan on July 8, spending four nights at the resort, followed by a one-night stay at the nearby Masikryong ski resort, before returning to the capital for a day of sightseeing. Tourism in North Korea While tourism is one of a narrow range of cash sources for North Korea, not targeted by United Nations sanctions, the reclusive state did not have a major foreign partner for the Wonsan project against the backdrop of sanctions over its weapons programmes. North Korea sealed its borders in 2020 at the start of the pandemic but has been slowly lifting restrictions since 2023. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD It has allowed Russian tourist groups into the country, but its capital and other parts of the country remain closed to regular tourism, though in April, it held a marathon event hosting foreign runners.
