Fresh Fuel into Tourism

Over the recent years tourism in Korea has entered a new stage of its development.

Strenuous efforts are being made to lay out the scenic spots more attractively and create new tourist attractions.

Supreme leader Kim Jong Un in his speech delivered at the historic plenary meeting of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea held in March 2013 stressed the need to build tourist parks in different parts of the country, including the areas of Wonsan and Mt Chilbo and add fuel to tourism.

The Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly of the DPRK issued decrees on setting up international tourist zones in the areas of Wonsan-Mt Kumgang and Mubong, and relevant measures have been taken. Every province of the country is creating tourist attractions that sustain local features, and building or renovating hotels, roads and airports. The government of the DPRK warmly welcomes foreign investment in the development of tourist zones and their infrastructure facilities and adopts measures for preferential treatment.

Along with this, active measures are being taken to develop tourism in a prospective and sustainable manner.

In April 2014 Pyongyang Tourism College, an institution of tertiary education, was inaugurated to train experts in tourism, and tourism departments were added to normal colleges in every province of the country, laying the foundations to develop tourism in an academic and scientific way. As part of measures for sustainable preservation and improvement of the ecological environment of noted mountains and scenic spots, efforts to expand international traffic routes and improve infrastructure facilities go full steam.

The country also pays due attention to the development of conspicuous tourist resources.

In the past tourism in Korea was confined mainly to visit to rural areas, historical monuments and scenic spots. But in recent years its scope expanded into the fields such as culture, architecture, business, experience of labour, mountaineering and other sports, and military history. In addition, travel by air, train and bike, and various other kinds of tourist activities are another opportunities.

The tourists can also enjoy revolutionary operas, orchestral and acrobatic performance and other forms of artistic performance, visit museums of history, ethnic manners and fine arts, taste traditional foods, experience folk customs and cultural life of the Korean people. This itinerary satisfies the needs of tourists who are interested in the culture and history of Korea.

Ample conveniences are provided to climbers. They put up tents and prepare meals by themselves and live outdoors. Also, travel by train, streetcar, trolley bus, metro and other means of public transport draws many tourists.

Architectural and sports tourism affords a good opportunity for gaining an understanding of the past and present history of Korea’s architecture and vying with Korean sportspeople in marathon, skiing, hockey, football, surfing and other events. The amateur marathoners’ contest alone held in April 2015 brought together more than 600 players.

Korea is the birthplace of Taekwon-Do. Here the visitors can learn and cultivate Taekwon-Do skills, and compete with the Korean practitioners. They can also join the Korean workers in their labour activities at the cooperative and fruit farms.

Meetings with relevant institutions and enterprises, visit to investment projects and briefing are organized for tourists who are interested in investment and equity and joint ventures and other kinds of business activities in Korea.

Over the recent years an increasing number of foreigners, those from Europe in particular, have applied for their visit.

The DPRK satisfies all needs of applicants with goodwill feelings irrespective of their nationality. It will as ever do its best to improve its tourist service.

Kim Yong Il

Director of State Tourism Administration