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AFP reported on July 7th that a noteworthy development from North Korea is opening up to international tourism. According to the report, Young Pioneer Tours (YPT), a China-based travel company, has announced a special tour to North Korea, scheduled to take place from October 24th to November 1st.
This trip will offer Western tourists a rare opportunity to experience unique aspects of North Korea, even though the border is not yet fully open to everyone.
North Korea will not allow Western journalists, travel content creators, and KOLs to attend the international autumn trade fair.
However, the most noteworthy point in YPT's announcement is the strict eligibility criteria. On its official website, YPT clearly states that this trip is not for journalists, travel content creators, or influencers.
Rowan Beard, co-founder of YPT, confirmed that these restrictions were "specific demands from North Korea." Beard also predicted that when North Korea officially reopens fully, there will be "tighter controls or restrictions on influencers and YouTubers participating in tours." Currently, YPT has not received any information on when Pyongyang will allow official press delegations to return.
A beverage product booth at the Pyongyang International Trade Fair.
China has long been North Korea's biggest ally in many aspects, from diplomacy and economics to politics. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the majority of foreign tourists and business travelers to North Korea were Chinese citizens. However, after reopening following the pandemic, tourist numbers have not yet recovered to pre-pandemic levels. Therefore, North Korea has recently begun to ease its tourism policy, accepting international tourist groups.
The clearest evidence of this is the fact that hundreds of foreign athletes were allowed to participate in the Pyongyang International Marathon last April, marking the first time the event was held again after a six-year hiatus.
Tour operators specializing in trips to North Korea consider this a rare opportunity, as the country is willing to grant tourist visas to foreign visitors attending the fair, even though the border has not yet fully reopened.
North Korea's refusal to accept influencer tourists has sparked much speculation. Chad O'Carroll, founder of NK News, a website specializing in North Korea, suggests the reason might be that influencers, while having a larger audience and greater public reach than professional journalists, "often lack editors and are more likely to create sensational content to attract views."
O'Carroll suggested that North Korean officials likely saw more risks than benefits in allowing influencers to visit, fearing "they would create content that is not in the country's interests." This move demonstrates Pyongyang's cautious approach to controlling its national image on global media platforms.
O'Carroll noted that the North Korean government "sees almost no benefit and perceives many significant risks" in allowing influential figures to visit.
The YPT tour, described as costing 3,995 euros (approximately 4,704 USD), departs from Beijing, China. The focus of the trip is a visit to the Pyongyang Autumn International Trade Fair, considered North Korea's largest international trade exhibition. Here, participants will have the rare opportunity to browse over 450 booths showcasing a diverse range of goods, from machinery and equipment, information technology, energy, and pharmaceuticals to consumer goods and household items. This offers a close-up look at North Korea's economy and domestic products.
Additionally, the group will have the opportunity to visit the Pyongyang Chamber of Commerce, where they will hear a "special presentation on the North Korean economy," providing more official and in-depth information about the country's development direction. The itinerary also includes visits to other prominent landmarks in Pyongyang, helping visitors learn more about the history, culture, and architecture of the capital.
YPT's tour, priced at €3,995 (over 123 million VND), will include attendance at the trade fair with over 450 booths showcasing products ranging from information technology and machinery to pharmaceuticals.
In particular, this trip offers a highly attractive highlight: a visit to Mount Myohyang. This is a long-standing destination famous for its museum displaying lavish gifts that North Korean leaders have received. Notably, this will be the first time Western tourists have set foot in this area in over five years, marking a new step in opening traditional tourist attractions to international visitors.
This move by North Korea, while still limited, suggests a more cautious opening up to the outside world, especially as the country attempts to revive its economy after the pandemic. Could this be a sign of a more open future for tourism in North Korea? Time will tell.
