State General Bureau of Tourist Guidance

State General Bureau of Tourist Guidance
Agency overview
Formed15 May 1986 (1986-05-15)
JurisdictionNorth Korea
HeadquartersCentral District, Pyongyang
Agency executive
  • President, Ryo Sung-chol
Parent agencyRoom 39
Websitetourismdprk.gov.kp Edit this at Wikidata
State General Bureau of Tourism
Chosŏn'gŭl
Hancha
Revised RomanizationGukga Gwangwang Chongguk
McCune–ReischauerKukka Kwan'gwang Ch'ongguk

State General Bureau of Tourist Guidance (formerly State General Bureau of Tourism; Korean: 국가관광총국) is a North Korean state agency that organizes tourism in North Korea.[1][2] Foreign tour operators have to work closely with the bureau;[2] its staff accompanies all tours of foreigners.[3]

The bureau was founded on 15 May 1986.[4][5][6] It was renamed State General Bureau of Tourist Guidance in January 1990.[5] It is based in the Central District of Pyongyang. Its president is Ryo Sung-chol.[1] State General Bureau of Tourist Guidance has been a member of the World Tourism Organization since September 1987 and the Pacific Asia Travel Association since April 1995.[7]

By and large, the North Korean tourism industry is overseen by Room 39, the organization in charge of North Korea's slush funds. Room 39 guides the State General Bureau of Tourism, which in turn "manages the earnings and maintains surveillance over the tourists, ensuring they are contained within specifically designated areas."[8]

  1. ^ a b Martino, John, ed. (2013). Worldwide Government Directory with Intergovernmental Organizations 2013. Los Angeles: Sage Reference. p. 892. ISBN 978-1-4522-9937-2.
  2. ^ a b Hoare, James E. (2012). "Tourism". Historical Dictionary of Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Lanham: Scarecrow Press. p. 368. ISBN 978-0-8108-7987-4.
  3. ^ Hoare, James (2 January 2015). "If you want to go to North Korea on holiday, this is what you'll see". The Independent. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  4. ^ 관광기관 [Tourism Agencies]. DPRK Today (in Korean). Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  5. ^ a b Korea Today. Vol. 1–9, 11–12. Pyongyang: Foreign Languages Publishing House. 1991. p. 43.
  6. ^ Tourism Development Report: Policy and Trends. World Tourism Organization. 1988. p. 130.
  7. ^ "Institutions". Naenara. Pyongyang: Foreign Languages Publishing House. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  8. ^ Park Ju-hee (23 October 2014). "What it means to travel to North Korea". New Focus International. Translated and edited by Haeryun Kang. Retrieved 20 February 2017.