In brief
Following a short-lived reopening to Western tourists in Rason, North Korea has once again closed its borders to visitors, leading tour operators to cancel trips. The sudden change raises concerns about the country's readiness for tourism and the ongoing impact of its strict pandemic measures.
North Korea has put a sudden stop to tourism, barely weeks after it welcomed its first Western visitors in over five years. The nation had kept its borders sealed since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in early 2020, gradually reopening starting in mid-2023 when it allowed Russian tourists to enter. The new policy permitting entry to Western tourists began on February 20, 2024, when visitors first arrived in Rason, a coastal city designated by the North as a special economic zone.However, tour companies have been informed that all trips to North Korea are canceled pending further instructions as of Wednesday. KTG Tours, a China-based operator specializing in North Korean travel, announced on Facebook that Rason had been closed "to everyone." Other agencies, including Young Pioneer Tours and Koryo Tours, quickly followed suit, recommending that potential travelers wait before booking flights for the upcoming months.The initial tours in Rason came with significant restrictions; visitors had less freedom to explore and interact with locals compared to pre-pandemic trips. Communication limitations extended further, as tourists lacked access to phone signals or the internet during their stay. A tour leader expressed that Rason might have been chosen for its easier manageability as a travel destination.Recently, Koryo Tours mentioned they were accepting applications for the Pyongyang Marathon scheduled for April 6—an event not held for five years—yet its status remains uncertain in light of the latest developments.Before closing its borders again, North Korea welcomed around 350,000 foreign tourists in 2019, 90% of whom were from China, hinting at the nation's reliance on external visitors for economic stability.
