Pipa Hotel Owner on Recent Progress in Rason District
Here are remarks on recent progress in the Rajin Sonbong district and his hotel business by Mr. Kang Chang Son, one of the three investors in the Pipa Tourist Hotel, built and operated in the trade zone since May 1997.
The joint venture hotel has been visited by the three co-managers for check-up and management instructions every six months.
Mr. Kang Chang Son (center) with hotel staff members
On Development in Rajin Sonbong District
What attracted my attention during my last visit, (November 1998) was the newly established Rajin market, which was vibrant with life and energy.
Displayed on the market were food, daily utensils, local specialties, and other consumption goods, provided by domestic as well as foreign companies including Chinese ones.
The market, which was set up in a 16,000 square meter building, allows local people as well as foreigners to open shops and retail outlets.
I also noticed some progress in restructuring works.
The roadbed construction works between the Rajin City and Wongjon Bridge, the border gateway to China, was nearly completed while its paving was being accelerated. According to local officials, the road project will be completed by this autumn.
In a related development, a Chinese regular cargo liner service linking Yanbian (China), Rajin (north Korea), Pusan (south Korea), and Niigata (Japan) ports, has been newly opened, boosting the local transportation business. The Chinese shipping company seems to have been doing a flourishing trade. When I visited the shuttle liner docked in Rajin port to receive my cargo from Japan, I saw a heap of south Korean and Chinese cars and freight being unloaded from it.
As for accommodation facilities in the district, six hotels of large and small size are presently under operation. Hong Kong
’s Emperor Group will join in the resort construction race by the end of this year with a five-star-class ritzy hotel.Meanwhile, an international public phone booth was newly set up thanks to the technical assistance by the Roxley telecommunication company in Thailand.
However, the toll is very expensive. It costs 600 yen per minute from there to Japan in comparison to 150 yen from Japan to my hotel.
In general, the developing pace is slow, and there are many hurdles to clear. I think the key to success is an early solution of infrastructure issues.
On Pipa Tourist Hotel
The Pipa Tourist Hotel, which I started with the two other resident Koreans in Japan 18 months ago, marked one million yen operating profit in the first 10 months of the year 1998.
Our hotel, which consists of 11 flat houses, is capable of accommodating 150 persons. It is equipped with guestrooms, two karaoke rooms, a big cafeteria, and a recreation facility.
We are sure that anyone who stay in our facilities will be satisfied with our cuisine and hospitality, presented by 45 staff and five cooks, who are well trained, disciplined and educated to serve our customers.
According to local officials, General Secretary Kim Jong Il visited and looked around our hotel, wishing for the success of this accommodation business.
We will continue to put money into it to further please and comfort our guests. As an immediate step, we will build a grand bathhouse and an out-door barbecue ground hall by the end of this year.
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