The new law was passed during a plenary session of North Korea’s Supreme People’s Assembly.
In a short statement by the regime’s Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the adopted new tourism law – as it is called – Discusses in detail the revitalization of domestic tourism and simultaneous growth of international tourism. The new law aims to “ensure comfort for tourists and actively protect the ecological environment”.
Tourist offices are wringing their hands
Martin Weiser, an expert at the NK Pro website specializing in North Korean affairs, said the new tourism law was “difficult to understand”. He also mentioned A focus on “tourist comfort” indicates a desire to promote mass tourism.
Although officials have yet to release the full text of the law or further details, tour operators specializing in travel to North Korea are “cautiously optimistic.”
– Tourism issues being discussed in Parliament is a positive sign. This means (Koreans – version) that foreign tourists expect to return soon – Rowan Beard, tour manager of Young Pioneer Tours, said in an interview with NK News.
However, Andrei Lankov, an expert on Korean affairs, pointed out that foreigners, especially those from democracies, pose a challenge to the security of North Korean authorities.
– Although these individuals are rarely on the payroll of the CIA or other intelligence agencies, their presence in the country exposes Pyongyang. Intelligence of information that the regime wants to hide from the outside world, he asserted.
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Korea opens up
The latest decision by North Korean officials is another sign of easing travel restrictions that have been in place since the outbreak began in 2020. Last week, the regime allowed its citizens abroad to return home.
Flights to Pyongyang with North Korean Air Goryeo have also resumed. The first flight took off from the capital Pyongyang and landed in Beijing on August 22.
See also: Five minutes in North Korea. I went to the most protected border in the world
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