The Wonsan-Kalma Coastal Tourist Area, the flagship resort area of the DPRK is set to open to Russian guests in July of 2025 according to a a travel agency from the country.
And there are realistic hopes that they may be joined by both Chinese and western groups as DPR Korea tries to not just rebound its tourism industry, but also fully move back into “normality” following Covid-19.
The Long Road to Opening
Wonsan-Kalma’s story is one of grand ambition and persistent setbacks. This massive coastal resort, featuring luxury hotels, pristine beaches, and modern amenities, was envisioned as a centerpiece of North Korea’s tourism industry. It was designed to attract visitors from around the globe, offering a rare glimpse into the nation’s softer side. However, sanctions, resource shortages, and the COVID-19 pandemic derailed these plans, leaving the resort’s opening in limbo for years.
After multiple delays, the resort was expected to open its doors in May 2023. However, Kim Jong Un’s personal intervention pushed the timeline back, with officials reportedly instructed to perfect every detail before welcoming international guests. And while the Russian company have said this will just be for Russians, the general information that I have been receiving at least is that it will be to the wider world.
Why might the Russians be first?
One of the most significant developments is the arrival of Russian tourists, who have become North Korea’s primary foreign visitors over the last year. With Russia increasingly isolated due to the Ukraine war, Moscow has sought to deepen ties with Pyongyang. This will include sending tourists to Wonsan-Kalma, as well as facilitating political exchanges and special interest groups.
For the DPRK Russian visitors represent not just those from an allied country, but also ones that are perhaps more likely to visit a resort in the DPRK than western tourists. Russians were of course the first tourists to be allowed back into the DPRK nearly 2024 and while delegates and athletes from other nations have visited, generally speaking the country remains closed.
A Broader Opening on the Horizon?
The Wonsan-Kalma opening is just one piece of a larger puzzle. North Korea has been making moves to gradually reopen its doors to the world. The Rason Special Economic Zone is set to welcome its first group of visitors on February 3rd, marking a significant milestone for a region that has long been a hub for cross-border trade with China and Russia. Whether this is being done as a wider test to open up Pyongyang is something that has been discussed at length…
There is though also real hope, among our partners at least the Pyongyang Marathon will welcome international guests in early April. Should this happen a wider opening to tourism, not just to Kalma could be on the cards.
Who will actually visit Kalma?
While Russian tourists have taken center stage, there is also hope that Chinese guests will flock to a resort, particularly if it is priced well. There have even been talks of having direct flights that are visa free, as per the Hainan model, but whether that really happens is yet to be seen.
Western tourists, meanwhile, remain an enigma. Although North Korea has historically welcomed adventurous travelers from Europe and North America, the pandemic and ongoing geopolitical tensions have created uncertainty. Would westerners visit the Kalma resort? My personal opinion is that in the short term at least they certainly would, even just to see what it is about.
Realistically though western guests will not want to Visit the DPRK to sit on a beach. Westerners, at least in my experience want to come and see the last truly communist country in the flesh.
So, will Kalma be a success? Only time will tell, but I can at least personally say for sure that I will certainly be visiting with professionally, as well as just for sheer shits and giggles.