North Korea looks set to resurrect a mass acrobatic extravaganza in what appears to be a renewed drive to boost tourism revenue in the isolated regime.

The expected relaunch of the so-called Arirang “Mass Games”, traditionally an acrobatic, dance and gymnastic performance involving up to 100,000 participants in Pyongyang’s 150,000-seater May Day Stadium, was revealed over the weekend by foreign tour companies operating in North Korea.

“We’re hearing from multiple different sources within the DPRK (North Korea) that the MASS GAMES will return in 2018!” said Beijing-based Koryo Tours on its Twitter account.

“The specifics aren’t entirely clear yet. But we wanted to share this incredibly exciting news with you at the earliest opportunity.”

In a blog post, Koryo, which has a British manager, described the Games as “the biggest and most elaborate human performance on planet earth.”

From 2007 to 2013 the festival was an annual summer ritual, popular with tourists who were transfixed by the mesmerising grandeur of thousands of performers dancing and marching with military precision on the world’s largest stadium stage.