North Korea's Wonsan Kalma resort, envisioned as a magnet for foreign tourists to boost the economy, launched this week but welcomed only local families due to travel restrictions. This development reflects the challenges the regime faces in attracting international visitors to offset the financial impact of stringent sanctions.
North Korea's Ambitious Wonsan Kalma Resort Opens with Domestics Only
North Korea's Ambitious Wonsan Kalma Resort Opens with Domestics Only
Despite grand plans for international tourism, the newly opened resort attracts only local visitors amid ongoing sanctions.
A new seaside resort opened this week in North Korea amid much local enthusiasm but without the foreign tourists its leader, Kim Jong-un, had hoped to attract. Dubbed Wonsan Kalma, this resort aims to generate much-needed foreign currency but currently only serves domestic tourists.
As reported by state media, the sandy beach stretches for 2.5 miles along the nation’s central east coast, and was packed with North Korean families two days post-opening. "The joy and optimism of the tourists were overflowing everywhere," proclaimed the Korean Central News Agency, capturing the upbeat atmosphere surrounding the new facility.
The Wonsan Kalma resort is one of the most ambitious projects of its kind, designed to accommodate up to 20,000 guests. This initiative is a significant departure from Kim's earlier approach of showcasing military might on the shores where the resort now stands, reflecting his shift in strategy following severe international sanctions imposed by the United Nations in 2017.
These sanctions severely limited North Korea's primary exports, starving the regime of vital foreign currency needed to fund its controversial nuclear and missile programs. In an attempt to mitigate these economic hardships, Kim has increasingly promoted tourism as an alternative revenue source, specifically targeting foreign visitors.
However, the lack of international tourists at the Wonsan Kalma resort highlights the ongoing challenges associated with attracting foreign visitors amid strict travel regulations, particularly from China, traditionally North Korea’s largest source of tourists.
As North Korean leaders inaugurate what they hope will become a flourishing tourist destination, analysts remain skeptical about the regime's ability to successfully lure foreign tourists and generate the financial inflow necessary to offset the effects of ongoing sanctions.
