Return of Chinese travellers may be the key to North Korea’s tourism revival

For Zhang Yue, a 29-year-old marketing specialist from Fuzhou in southeastern China, news reports about North Korea have painted a picture of a country vastly different from other travel destinations.

“I think many people have stereotypes about travelling there with worries about whether it’s dangerous, or view it as a somewhat ‘special’ or ‘niche’ destination for something like an adventurous experience,” she said. “I hope to have the opportunity to see it with my own eyes.”

Like Zhang, many Chinese people who haven’t visited find North Korea an intriguing destination, which seems to be driving their interest in travelling there.

In August, North Korea announced it would resume foreign tourism in December, starting with the northern area of Samjiyon near Mount Paektu. The news quickly prompted China-based travel agencies Koryo Tours and KTG Tours to begin offering excursions.