International visitors will be welcomed back in North Korea, according to tour operators.

• This December, travel to Samjiyon and other parts of the country may be permitted, as stated by Koryo Tours.
• Since 2020, North Korea has remained closed to foreign tourists due to the global pandemic.

International tourism in North Korea will resume this winter, ending the travel ban imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic, as announced by tour operators.

On Wednesday, KTG and Koryo Tours, two companies that organize trips to North Korea, announced that their partners in the country had informed them about the government's plans to permit travel to certain locations.

The North Korean city of Samjiyon will be allowed for travel by December, as per the companies, and other parts of the country may also be opened up for tourism.

Koryo Tours, a Beijing-based tour operator, is thrilled to announce the reopening of North Korean tourism after waiting for over 4 years.

Since 2020, North Korea has mostly restricted foreign tourists, but some international flights to and from the country resumed last year. A small group of Russians reportedly visited North Korea in February.

The country has been preparing for a wider reopening for some time now.

Koryo Tours reports that North Korea has been striving to establish tourism infrastructure in Samjiyon, a city situated near the Chinese border for several years.

According to North Korean state media, Kim Jong Un, who visited the city last month, has commended it as a "paragon of highly-civilized mountain city," boasting of new hotels, attractions, and a ski resort.

Another major tourism site is being constructed on the country's eastern coast.

The global pandemic has severely affected North Korea's economy, but efforts could aid in its recovery.

The cost of introductory tours to North Korea can vary between 600 and 1,500 euros per person, based on factors such as departure location, duration, group size, and lodging.

Citizens of the Republic of Korea are the only nationalities prohibited from traveling to North Korea as tourists.

The Department of State advises against travel to North Korea with U.S. passports, unless they are specially validated.

The opening of Samjiyon is intended to draw in Chinese tourists, who made up the majority of international visitors to North Korea prior to the pandemic.

In 2019, North Korea received a massive influx of 350,000 Chinese tourists, generating substantial revenue for Pyongyang, as reported by NK News, a U.S.-based website that offers insights into the country.