Over 250 Britons have expressed interest in visiting Kalma beach resort in North Korea, prompting a discussion about the ethics of tourism in a country with a controversial human rights record.
This photo released on December 31, 2024, shows what the Kalma beach resort looks like. Would you ever swap Benidorm for a sunny holiday at a brand new beach resort in North Korea opening this summer? Well that’s exactly what 250 Britons have said they want to do. The holidaymakers have registered to visit the Kalma beach resort, which is located in Wonsan, North Korea .
Travel retailer On The Beach set up the page to see what the mood was for Britons about the dictatorship – leaving them surprised with the results. The so-called North Korean ‘Benidorm’ sits on a former missile site and has faced a number of setbacks over the years. It was originally supposed to open in June 2019 but has faced repeated delays, including design changes, sanctions-related material shortages, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Current UK Government advice urges people not to travel to North Korea, unless your travel is ‘essential’, which excludes holidays. Human rights charities meanwhile have urged people not to visit Kalma, citing the extensive human rights abuses its citizens have faced for decades. While On The Beach is definitely not offering holidays to the region, the company said it can’t see Britons swapping Kalma for Kos in the near future. Zoe Harris, chief customer officer, said: ‘We’re always on the lookout for the next best thing when it comes to all-inclusive resorts in incredible destinations. ‘We were intrigued whether Brits would be interested in the new Wonsan resort and so we set up a page where people could register their interest. ‘We were surprised to see that more than 250 holidaymakers put their names down. ‘I don’t envisage us Brits swapping Benidorm for a North Korean Benidorm anytime soon. But if the doors to the Wonsan resort are opened to British holidaymakers it looks like there will be some who want to experience it.’ While most countries probably won’t be offering their residents the chance to experience Kalma anytime soon, one nation has gone ahead with it – and is offering people to fly out as early as this summer. The first planned holidays are through Russian-based travel agency Vostok Intur, which is based in the southern Russian port city of Vladivostok close to North Korea. The seven-night itinerary is priced at £1,140, with an additional charge of £286. It’s not surprising that Russia and North Korea are aligned however, as Russian leader Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have been supportive of each other over the last few years. Last year, Kim Jong Un sent an estimated 12,000 North Korean troops to Russia to aid in Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine. Greg Scarlatoiu, executive director of the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea, warned: ‘The Wonsan-Kalma resort was built with forced labour. Vacationing there is morally and ethically wrong – it is truly an abomination. ‘Having Russian nationals vacation there is testament to the pathetic isolation of both Russia and North Korea.’ Current advice on the UK Government website states: ‘The level of tension on the Korean Peninsula remains high. ‘While daily life in the capital city, Pyongyang, may appear calm, the security situation in North Korea can change quickly with no advance warning about possible actions by the authorities. ‘This poses significant risks to British visitors and resident
North Korea Kalma Beach Resort Tourism Travel Human Rights Vladimir Putin Kim Jong Un
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