Tourist trips to North Korea have not been carried out for the past 4 years, because the country closed its borders due to the coronavirus epidemic. However, a few days ago, reports began to appear about a possible easing of restrictions. Find out when tourists can visit North Korea

North Korea is a country that never makes it into the rankings of the world's most popular tourist destinations. However, this very fact makes it the most exotic place, a trip to which will definitely be remembered.

Since 2020, the country's borders have been closed to foreign travelers due to the COVID epidemic. However, the other day, tourist operators received a message about the resumption of tourist trips already in December 2024.

When will North Korea welcome tourists again?

North Korea plans to resume international tourism to its northeastern city of Samjiyon as early as December 2024 and possibly to the rest of the country, Chinese travel companies said. The announcement means the world's most closed country is ready to welcome large groups of foreign tourists again after years of strict border controls due to COVID.

It is worth noting that international flights to North Korea were resumed last year. A small group of Russian tourists flew to the state on a private tour in February 2024. The country was also visited by high-ranking officials of foreign countries.

Why will the city of Samjiyon be the first to be opened to tourists?

Samjiyon is a new city in North Korea, located near the border with China. It was built near the sacred mountain, where the family of the Korean leader Kim Jong-un comes from.

The grand opening of the city took place in 2019, when state media called it "the epitome of modern civilization" - a large mountain city with new apartments, hotels and commercial, cultural and medical facilities.

North Korean authorities have said that Samjiyon can accommodate 4,000 families. The city is one of the biggest economic initiatives that Kim has launched as part of his quest for an "independent economy."

Also according to North Korean state media, in July Mr Kim unveiled plans to rebuild an airport, turn a military ski base into a resort and build new railways and hotels for foreign tourists to boost tourism "from friendly countries".

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Citizens of which countries can visit North Korea?

North Korean authorities allow tourists from any country to join the trips, except for South Korean citizens.

The US government also prohibits its citizens from traveling to Korea. All US passports are invalid for entry, exit or transit through North Korea without special permission from the US Secretary of State, the State Department said, as the US agency warns that Americans face a serious risk of arrest and prolonged detention in North Korea.

The organization of a tourist trip to North Korea has a lot of features, therefore, to plan a tourist route here, it is worth cooperating with experienced tourist operators.

We will remind you! The Tunisian government is actively working to simplify international travel for its citizens. From August 2024, Tunisians can travel to 69 countries of the world without visas. We talked about the peculiarities of the visa policy and the development of the tourism industry in Tunisia in this article.