The Kalma Coastal Tourist Area is currently preparing for its reopening by conducting facility repairs and maintaining amusement installations. While Chinese travel agencies reportedly began selling North Korea tour packages in March for May departures, this appears to be inaccurate. Considering the construction progress of the new railway station and the typical opening season for beaches on the east coast of the Korean Peninsula, the site is expected to reopen in early July.

Considering the Chinese Ambassador’s recent visit to the tourist area and the Chinese Foreign Minister’s visit to North Korea in April, it is expected that North Korea will shift its focus toward attracting Chinese tourists after failing to draw significant numbers from Russia. Furthermore, since 90% of pre-pandemic visitors to North Korea were from China’s three northeastern provinces, targeting the Chinese market appears to be the most realistic strategy. Therefore, China is likely North Korea’s top priority for its tourism revitalization efforts.