North Hamgyong Province authorities are working hard to turn Mt. Chilbo into a popular tourist destination, Daily NK has learned.
Speaking on condition of anonymity for security reasons, a source in North Hamgyong Province told Daily NK on Monday that North Hamgyong Province “received an order from Pyongyang to redevelop Mt. Chilbo and manage it at a top-class level, and has been going all out to report back to Pyongyang after completing systemic preparations needed for international and domestic tourism.”
According to the source, the province has begun drawing up programs to bring foreign and domestic tourists to Mt. Chilbo during all four seasons. After the provincial party and people’s committees have screened the programs, the province will ultimately report them to Pyongyang.
North Hamgyong Province has been engrossed in drawing up its Mt. Chilbo tourism plans, putting tourist and trade experts on the project and even getting remote help from personnel in Pyongyang. It is also working hard to renovate and modernize the mountain’s tourist facilities, including changes to their location and internal structure.
“They are drawing up a variety of programs that foreign and domestic tourists can enjoy each season, and in particular, they are creating a plan to teach tourists how to cook seafood they catch themselves at the seashore in summer and autumn,” the source said.
“They are also drawing up plans to promote the efficacy of the waters of Mt. Chilbo’s Tokpo Hot Spring and enable its use in all four seasons by creating indoor and outdoor solo baths, couple baths, family baths and public baths,” he added.
Above all, the province is working hard to draw up programs befitting an international tourist hotspot per Pyongyang’s belief that the plans must accord with global trends to draw tourists, the source said.
The province is also working hard to realize Pyongyang’s desire to turn Mt. Chilbo into a world-class tourism destination for domestic tourists unable to travel overseas.
“Distinguishing this project is that local officials have gathered together to do it rather than the central government jumping in completely, and it embodies the thinking of both the province and Pyongyang,” the source said.
State-run Korea Central TV ran a three-part travelogue, “Visiting Mt. Chilbo, an East Sea Scenic Spot,” over three straight days from Nov. 4. North Korea has recently been moving to begin full-scale tourism projects, a legal means for the country to earn foreign currency, and it seems the authorities are promoting Mt. Chilbo — a leading tourist attraction — as part of the effort.
Translated by David Black. Edited by Robert Lauler.
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