Air Travel Expansion in North Korea Could Boost Tourism

Young Pioneer Tours, a Xian, China-based operator offering tours to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, better known as North Korea, reported that it will take advantage of an opening of domestic flights within North Korea to expand its tours to the isolated communist country.

According to the company, DPRK just opened its domestic flight routes for the first time in years. The change will go into effect July 14 when North Korea’s national carrier Air Koryo will start operating the new flights. The change will enable visitors to visit cities beyond Pyongyang using air transportation, a big breakthrough for the operation of tours in the country.

The country has suffered from severe shortages in fuel in recent years, but has imported a large quantity from China this year that can help fuel the new routes and jumpstart DPRK’s blossoming tourism industry.

YPT’s Troy Collins said, “Regular flights like this have not been scheduled before – at least not in the six years we’ve been doing this.”

YPT says it will incorporate North Korea’s new domestic flights into its independent package offerings when the flights become available in mid-July, and will later incorporate them into its group tours. Though most of its clients are from China, the company also offers its tours to Americans.

Young Pioneer Tours calls itself the first company to offer budget tours to DPRK and says its tours do “far more than just show you around a few designated sites. We show people the ‘real’ Korea, taking our guests to places other companies do not dare to. We know North Korea, and our tours deliver an unforgettable experience that will stay with you for life.”

Most of North Korea’s tourists are from China. But a few American tour operators have offered some tours to North Korea, primarily to attend its Grand Mass Gymnastic and Artistic Performance, or Arirang festival, which incorporates a cast of 100,000 performing synchronized movements in a 150,000-seat stadium.

In 2010 DPRK changed its policies to allow U.S. visitors to come at any time during the year. Previous to that, Americans were only allowed into the country during the Arirang festival or Mass Games. There are still some special restrictions for Americans in particular. Americans can only enter the company by air, not by train from China, as other nationalities are.  

The U.S. State Department maintains a travel warning in regard to DPRK, which says that it “strongly recommends against all travel by U.S. citizens to North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea, or DPRK).” It cites as one of its reasons the fact that “U.S. citizen tourists have been subject to arbitrary arrest and long-term detention.”

The State Department warns that any travel activities that go beyond strictly maintained government boundaries and regulations could result in detention.

There are occasional reports of Americans being detained in DPRK. Jeffrey Edward Fowle was reportedly detained after entering the country on April 29. North Korean state media reported that Fowle was detained for committing acts inconsistent with a tourism visit. Diplomatic sources are reported to have said the charges stem from Fowle leaving a Bible in his hotel room.

Another U.S. visitor, Matthew Todd Miller, is said to have torn up his visa and asked for asylum after he entered North Korea. Miller was also detained.

The Korean Central News Agency reported that arrangements are being made for court proceedings for Miller and Fowle, but did not say when.

In regard to danger for Americans traveling in DPRK, Young Pioneer Tours, said, “In over six years of operating in the DPRK we have taken thousands of guests into the country, of which hundreds have been American. None of them have been arrested, nor has there even been even the vaguest atmosphere of danger, or worry felt by any of our guests in the country… It is our view that reasonable travelers that are able to respect and behave accordingly in the DPRK have nothing to fear, and will enjoy a great experience. Those that really feel that they cannot, or who are traveling to spread religious views contrary to the beliefs of the country, should avoid putting themselves in danger, and simply not visit the country.”

Tour operators that have offered tours to Korea for Americans include GeoEx of San Francisco; Universal Travel System of Santa Monica, Calif.; and Asia Pacific Travel of Kenilworth, Ill.

Source: Travel Pulse, http://www.travelpulse.com/news/destinations/air-travel-expansion-in-north-korea-could-boost-tourism.html