Why North Korea is shunning Chinese tourists who used to be cash cow for regime | NK News
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October 08, 2024
Analysis

Why North Korea is shunning Chinese tourists who used to be cash cow for regime

DPRK has only allowed Russian tours to date, a trend experts say bodes poorly for tourism industry and broader reopening

North Korea has slowly restored important aspects of its relationship with China as it has emerged from its pandemic isolation over the last year, ramping up trade, welcoming diplomats and delegations, and resuming exchanges of students and business people.

But nearly five years since COVID-19 spread around the world, Pyongyang still has given no indication of when it will allow Chinese tourists to return, despite previously netting the regime close to $200 million in foreign currency per year and the resumption of tourism from Russia.

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