President Kim Il Sung took a step for setting up the International Travel Company of the DPRK, the predecessor of the general bureau, on August 24, Juche 42 (1953).

He indicated the orientation and ways for the company to follow and set forth the original idea and theory on developing tourism and solved the issues arising in tourism even under the difficult situation where the postwar rehabilitation and construction were under way.

General Secretary Kim Jong Il made sure that the State General Bureau of Tourism was set up in May, Juche 75 (1986) with a deep insight into the realistic requirements for developing tourism. He led the personnel in the field of tourism to conduct it in a big way as required by the international interest and zeal for tourism in the DPRK.

He saw to it that scenic spots across the country including Mt. Paektu, Mt. Chilbo and Mt. Kuwol were successfully spruced up as recreation grounds for the people and tourist destinations in the period of the arduous march and the forced march, too, and worked heart and soul to provide material and technical foundation for tourism.

Supreme leader Kim Jong Un has paid deep attention to the development of tourism in the country and singled it out as an important field for building an economic power and improving the people's living standard.

He clarified principled issues arising in boosting the nation's tourism, including matters of developing tourist destinations in a big way, building sufficient service facilities, improving transportation and producing souvenirs.

Over the last six decades since its founding the general bureau has fully demonstrated the validity and vitality of the Juche-oriented idea and theory on developing the nation's tourism while dynamically promoting tourism.

A meeting was held here on Friday to mark the diamond jubilee of the bureau.