North Korea Trying to Grow Tourism Industry

North Korea is building hotels and training hoteliers to attract foreign tourists. According to its international propaganda magazine Tongil Sinbo Weekly, such hotels are to be built across the country, even in counties far from Pyongyang.

Since the inauguration of Kim Jong-un, the North has built new hotels and remodeled existing ones in an effort to develop its tourism infrastructure. The Kalma Hotel and Saenal Hotel opened in Wonsan, Gangwon Province in July last year. Another large hotel was set up in the Mashiknyeong Ski Resort in December, too.

The country is trying make the most of its tourism resources located in major tourist attractions and various local areas. Some experts point out that North Korea is planning to give foreign tourists greater access to previously prohibited areas.

The weekly newspaper also reported about the Bongsa (services) School, which was established in the Jang Cheol-koo Pyongyang College of Commerce in April this year for hotelier training. The school provides hotel management and cooking courses and the like for 100 or so students.

“The school teaches future hoteliers at least two foreign languages so that they can better serve foreign tourists from all around the world,” it said, adding, “Also, it focuses more on the practice, rather than on the theory, of every type of hotel service ranging from massage to cuisine.”