North Korea's Beach Resort Showcased: A Promising Venture for Tourist Attraction, Witnessing Indigenous Swimming and Playtime Activities
The Wonsan-Kalma beach resort, North Korea's largest tourist complex, officially commenced operations in late June 2025, welcoming domestic tourists first. The resort, boasting hotels, swimming facilities, water park slides, and other recreational amenities catering to nearly 20,000 guests, has been a focal point of leader Kim Jong Un's efforts to revitalise North Korea's economy through tourism [1][2][3].
In the realm of international tourism, the prospects are tentative and limited. Although the resort is scheduled to welcome foreign visitors, a full reopening to Western tourists appears unlikely in the near future due to ongoing pandemic restrictions, geopolitical tensions with the U.S. and South Korea, and concerns about the image of the regime. The initial foreign visitors are expected to be Russians, with the first Russian tour reportedly slated for July 2025 [1][2][4].
The future prospects for the Wonsan-Kalma resort involve expanding to accommodate more foreign visitors, particularly from China and Russia, as these countries are seen as crucial to the resort's financial viability. Kim Jong Un’s administration is actively promoting tourism development, including plans for other large tourist sites across the country. However, a full reopening to Western tourists remains uncertain and likely distant given the country's cautious approach and political circumstances [1][4].
The Wonsan-Kalma beach resort stands as a key project in North Korea's tourism push, albeit with a cautious and limited international outlook for now [1][2][3][4]. The resort's opening ceremony was attended by Kim Jong Un, who called it "the proud first step" toward realizing the government's policy of developing tourism. State media reported the opening of the Wonsan-Kalma area, showcasing North Koreans enjoying open water swimming, slides, and various water activities, symbolising the flourishing of North Korea's "our-style tourism culture" under Kim Jong Un's regime [1][2].
Despite the initial success of the Wonsan-Kalma resort, North Korea's tourism industry still faces challenges. Approximately 880 Russian tourists visited North Korea in the previous year, a number too small to revive North Korea's tourism [5]. Chinese group tours, which were the majority of visitors pre-pandemic, are currently stalled. The uncertainties surrounding North Korea's relationship with China further complicate the country's tourism ambitions [6].
In summary, the Wonsan-Kalma beach resort represents a significant step in North Korea's tourism strategy, offering domestic tourists a new recreational destination while cautiously exploring the potential of international tourism. As the government continues to promote tourism as a means to stimulate economic growth, the success of the Wonsan-Kalma resort and the broader tourism industry will depend on the resolution of geopolitical tensions, the management of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the willingness of foreign tourists to visit North Korea.
References: [1] Associated Press, Kim Tong-hyung (2025), North Korea opens Wonsan-Kalma beach resort to domestic tourists. [2] Korean Central News Agency (2025), Wonsan-Kalma tourist zone opens. [3] BBC News (2025), North Korea opens Wonsan-Kalma tourist zone. [4] Reuters (2025), North Korea's Wonsan-Kalma resort to welcome foreign tourists, but Western tourists uncertain. [5] South China Morning Post (2024), North Korea's tourism industry struggles to recover amid geopolitical tensions. [6] The Diplomat (2023), North Korea's tourism industry: A delicate dance with China.
- The government in North Korea is actively promoting tourism development, including plans for other large tourist sites, with the aim of revitalizing the country's economy and culture.
- Although the Wonsan-Kalma beach resort has officially commenced operations, welcoming both domestic tourists and Russians, the prospects for a full reopening to Western tourists appear uncertain and limited due to ongoing pandemic restrictions, geopolitical tensions, and concerns about the image of the regime.
- The lifestyle of North Korean citizens may change as they embrace the recreational offerings at the Wonsan-Kalma resort, which symbolizes the flourishing of North Korea's "our-style tourism culture" under Kim Jong Un's regime.
- The economy of North Korea could potentially benefit from increased tourism, especially from China and Russia, as these countries are seen as crucial to the financial viability of the Wonsan-Kalma resort's international success.
- The travel industry, both domestically and internationally, is closely linked to the politics of the region, as geopolitical tensions with the U.S., South Korea, and China may influence the willingness of foreign tourists to visit North Korea and the resolution of these tensions will play a significant role in the broader tourism industry's future.
