Yonhap news agency reported that a China-based travel company is accepting to register for a tour of Rason city, located in northeastern North Korea, next week.
This is the latest sign that North Korea has reopened its doors to foreign tourists after five years of closing the border due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the company's website said on Tuesday.
Specifically, Zhixing Heyi, a Beijing-based travel agency, said it is a regional partner of North Korea's National Tourism Guide Corporation and has received a notice that North Korea's international tourism programs will officially reopen in 2025.
The company is currently accepting registration on its website.
"This is the first time in five years that North Korea has officially opened its doors to foreign tourists," the company said in Chinese, adding that it has also received special approval from North Korea to organize the first private tour group of Chinese citizens to visit Rason City in the past five years.
The trip will depart for Rason on Monday and last for four days, with two service packages priced at 3,599 yuan (about 12.6 million VND) and 4,599 yuan (about 16.1 million VND) respectively.
The trip schedule includes highlights, natural scenery and art performances in the city.
A representative of the travel company revealed to Yonhap news agency that the tour group will be limited to 10 participants.
North Korea has recently shown signs of opening up more to international tourists, as it lifted border control measures imposed since 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Earlier this month, foreign travel agents collaborating with two China-based travel companies were said to have traveled to Rason City to survey new tourist destinations.
