A tourism package for foreigners to attend the Pyongyang International Trade Fair (PITF) this October sold out in just ten days. Despite North Korea’s recent implementation of stricter censorship guidelines, including limiting the participation of journalists and influencers, the demand for North Korean tourism seems to be holding strong.
Young Pioneer Tours, a China-based travel agency specializing in North Korean tours, told News1 on Wednesday that their Pyongyang International Trade Fair tour is now fully booked. A company representative stated that the demand for North Korean tourism is through the roof right now.
The agency had posted the tour package on their website on July 6, offering an 8-day, 7-night Pyongyang getaway from October 24 to November 1. The reservation for this package was closed in just 10 days.
Travelers who purchase this package will have the opportunity to experience the Pyongyang International Trade Fair from October 27 to 31. They’ll have the chance to explore booths from over 450 international companies showcasing everything from cutting-edge machinery and IT to the latest in energy, pharmaceuticals, and must-have household items. They can also obtain business visas through North Korea’s Foreign Economic Exchange Association for participation in official trade fairs.
The tour package also includes Mount Myohyang, Kim Il Sung Square, Juche Tower, Pueblo, subway boarding, and shopping at department stores. In particular, the Mount Myohyang tour will resume for the first time in five years since North Korea closed its borders due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
The product was priced at 3,995 EUR (approximately 4,640 USD), including airfare between Beijing and Pyongyang.
At the time of the product’s launch, the travel agency drew attention by announcing that journalists, travel content creators, and influencers were not eligible to participate in the tour, citing North Korean regulations.
This policy was interpreted as an intention to control the spread of North Korea’s poor internal conditions through foreign influencers or the spread of negative perceptions of North Korea through them.
This comes after a brief experiment with Western group tourism to a special economic zone in February for the first time in five years since the COVID-19 pandemic, which North Korea abruptly halted after less than a month.
At that time, several travel influencers included in the group of tourists posted explicit reviews on social media such as YouTube and Instagram, which allegedly prompted North Korea to strengthen its censorship standards to prevent this from happening again.
When News1 asked for more details on the profession-specific tourism restrictions, the travel agency didn’t clarify clear criteria, emphasizing that journalists and influencers are strictly banned from this trip.
