Promoted ski excursion to North Korea hints at re-emergence of initial tourists post-2020
Experience an unprecedented ski tour to North Korea! After a long hiatus due to Covid, a Russian travel agency is offering the first opportunity to explore this isolated country Don't miss this exclusive chance to discover the untouched beauty of North Korea's majestic slopes
The first North Korea tour since the country closed its borders due to Covid is being offered by a Russian travel agency. The tour promises a "family friendly" ski trip to a luxury resort outside the capital Pyongyang. North Korea, like many other countries, imposed strict anti-epidemic measures and closed its borders when the pandemic began to spread worldwide in early 2020.
Russian tourists have the opportunity to be among the first travelers to return to North Korea for a four-day trip to the Masikryong Ski Resort, all for just $750. This exclusive offer is available through the Russian travel agency Vostok Inturs, as advertised on their website. Prior to the Covid pandemic, the country offered mysterious and meticulously planned tours for those intrigued by the enigmatic and isolated nation, under the leadership of Kim Jong Un and his predecessors.
North Korea has announced that it will no longer pursue reunification with South Korea and plans to launch new spy satellites in 2024. Simon Cockerell, the general manager of Koryo Tours, mentioned that this trip would mark the first entry into North Korea since its borders closed in January 2020.
He described it as a "positive indication," but warned against assuming it indicated a larger reemergence of North Korea's small tourist industry before the pandemic.
"I would advise against assuming that this will result in a widespread reopening to all tourists," Cockerell cautioned, as his tour company suffered losses when borders were shut down.
North Korea has not yet announced the resumption of tourism. However, according to the state news agency KCNA, Pyongyang's External Economic Relations Minister Yun Jong Ho met with Oleg Kozhemyako, the governor of the Maritime Territory Administration in Moscow during his visit to North Korea in December. KCNA reported that the two sides talked about "the issues of advancing inter-regional economic cooperation between the two countries to a higher level."
CNN has contacted Vostok Intur, a Russian travel agency, for their statement. The agency's website indicates that they arrange frequent tours to China, and have recently added a trip to North Korea. In recent news, a North Korean commercial plane has landed in China for the first time in three years.
The upcoming trip to North Korea is set to leave from Vladivostok in Russia on February 9th. The advertised package includes round-trip flights from Vladivostok to Pyongyang and a bus ride to Masikryong ski resort, located at the top of the 1,360-meter Taehwa Peak, approximately a 3.5-hour drive east of Pyongyang.
"The ad boasts of a winter sports paradise in Masikryong, offering clean mountain air and magnificent views. The itinerary also features visits to local museums and temples."
