China

Tourist boom to DPRK looms ahead of China's holiday

2014-09-30 09:37:13

CHANGCHUN, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- China's upcoming National Day holiday is expected to give a boost to the tourist market in neighboring Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) as it is a new favorite among Chinese travellers.

In northeast China's Jilin Province, on the border, it is not uncommon to see tour agencies organizing groups for the DPRK.

Access is facilitated by the DPRK, who have capitalized on growing crowds by adding extended working hours for approving permits for Chinese tourists to address the coming boom during China's week-long National Holiday.

"Travel booking to DPRK is bursting on all tour itineraries. Tickets are out-of-demand in several travel agencies," said Zhang Hongyu, with Yanbian Comfort International Travel Service Co. Ltd.

Cross-border travels between China and DPRK were suspended last year following tension between the two countries. Cross-border chartered train services resumed in April.

In the first half of the year, more than 80,000 Chinese tourists went to DPRK via the customs in Hunchun City of Jilin, which was double the number of the same period last year.

DPRK has shown interest in seeing its burgeoning tourism sector continue growing. It has approved several new travel programs and simplified entry applications to woo Chinese tourists.

In April, train service from Ji'an City of Jilin Province was launched to link with Pyongyang, Kaesong and Panmunjom in DPRK, making it the second city after Dandong in the neighboring Liaoning Province with such services.

Meanwhile, DPRK has opened more cities for group tours from China, including Rason, Namyang, Chongjin and the Mount Kumgang.

Lian Qinghua, manager of Yanbian Northeast Asia Passenger Transport Tourist Agency, said in addition to train routes, DPRK has also allowed individual Chinese travellers to travel on vehicles and by bike to scenery spots on the border.

Editor:Liu Kan

Recommended Articles   >>