North Korea Tour Hype Grows in China, Travelers Urged Caution
Reports of a potential reopening of tourism to North Korea are gaining traction, but industry experts are warning travelers to proceed carefully amid unconfirmed information and speculative tour sales.
The latest surge in interest follows an announcement from China Railway’s official WeChat account stating that international passenger train services between China and North Korea resumed on March 12, 2026. The service connects Beijing and Dandong in China with Pyongyang, sparking excitement across the travel sector.
However, industry insiders caution that the development does not signal a full reopening to tourists. According to Xiangyu, a tour guide based in the border city of Dandong, the resumed train service is currently limited to business travelers and specific personnel.
“Many people online are assuming tourism has resumed, but that is not the case,” he said. “At present, only business visas are being issued. Tourist visas for regular travelers have not been reopened.”
Despite this, some travel agencies have begun marketing so-called “first departure” tour packages, encouraging customers to pay in advance to secure spots on future trips. Xiangyu warned that such offers may be premature and carry financial risks.
“There has been no official notice confirming the reopening of tourism,” he said. “Agencies asking for upfront payments are essentially speculating, and travelers should be cautious about committing money without clear confirmation.”
Speculation about North Korea reopening to international tourists is not new. Similar reports surfaced in 2024, prompting travel companies to prepare for a potential restart. However, those expectations did not materialize, and no official announcement followed from Pyongyang.
Before the pandemic, North Korea’s tourism sector was small but growing. Official figures indicate that more than 200,000 foreign visitors entered the country in 2018, with approximately 90% coming from China.
Recent travel data suggests interest remains strong. According to VariFlight, flight searches to Dandong rose by about 50% on March 11 compared to the previous day, while train ticket searches increased roughly 20%. This indicates sustained curiosity among travelers, even after years of border closures.
For now, experts advise waiting for formal government confirmation before making any bookings. While transportation links are beginning to reopen, the return of international tourism to North Korea remains uncertain, and travelers should avoid paying for unverified tour packages.
Related News: https://airguide.info/?s=north+korea, https://airguide.info/category/air-travel-business/travel-health-security/
Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com