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country profile North Korea – Something completely different –
y reputation alone, this international pariah and last bastion of totalitarian communism might sound like a holiday from hell. Yet for the organised group tour market – the only form of travel permitted – it’s popularity is up, says Mark Stratton
B
Spearheading this admittedly limited market is Beijing-based British operator, Koryo Tours. Besides offering commission to travel agents who provide passengers for Koryo’s tours they also offer net rates and ground-handling arrangements for agents who want to run their own. “The easiest way to sell North Korea is to point out the simple truth that there is nowhere else like it,” says Simon Cockerell, General Manager of Koryo Tours. And for those who remember the USSR or Mao’s China, it’s a blast from the past. In the capital, Pyongyang, the monolithic scale of public buildings, museums, war monuments and sweeping plazas makes you feel positively Lilliputian. Every street corner bears the watchful image of the ‘Great Leader’, Kim Il-sung, the father of North Korea. Chanting squadrons of soldiers may march past bearing red banners, while slogans denouncing American imperialism and exulting revolutionary spirit are commonplace. Travellers must be accompanied at all times by local guides so it’s not possible to go wandering off by yourself. Offence and possible detention can be triggered by seemingly trivial actions; for example, photographing a soldier. One holidaymaker was arrested for throwing a newspaper away because its front cover featured (as always) a picture of the
current leader, Kim Jung-un. But, advises Simon Grove, Head of Product at Explore, clients need not be daunted. “North Korea is actually a very welcoming country – the locals are keen to show it off in a good light”. One question you may encounter selling North
Korea is the ethics of visiting a country with an abysmal human rights record? Says Cockerell: “My answer is this: North Korea is criticized for its isolationism, so we should not deliberately isolate it. Any kind of interaction between foreigners and North Koreans has value”. Next year will be an important one for North
Korean tourism because its best-selling tours coincide with the so-called Mass Games. These are spectacular outdoors shows featuring
choreographed music, dancing, and military marching, performed by a cast of thousands. The Mass Games are triggered by signifi cant historic events and in 2015 North Korea celebrates two important 70th anniversaries: the Liberation from Japan (August 15) and the foundation of its ruling Workers Party (October 10). Another new development aimed at lengthening
a tourism season previously condensed into the summer months because of bitter winters is the fi rst full winter season of the country’s fi rst ski resort at Masikryong. •
sellingtravel.co.uk The details
Visas: The ground handler arranges a letter of invitation in advance upon booking and a permit card is typically issued in Beijing costing €50. How to get there: Air China (
airchina.co.uk) fl ies from London to Beijing and connects with daily Air Koryo fl ights (
airkoryo.com) to Pyongyang.
EXPLORE – 0844 499 0901 THE 12-DAY GROUP DEPARTURE VISITS PYONGYANG, HISTORIC
KAESONG, MT KUMGANG, AND THE DMZ. FROM £3257PP, IT INCLUDES THE FLIGHT FROM LONDON TO BEIJING, ONWARD TRANSFERS TO PYONGYANG, FULL-BOARD HOTELS, TOUR BUS, AND GUIDES.
Explore.co.uk
ALSO: KORYO TOURS: +86 10 6416 7544
Pyongyang The unique and remarkable showcase capital is brimming with propaganda- laden monuments and museums. A highlight is riding its opulently ornate subway.
Mass Games Choreographed events of Olympian proportions – featuring a cast of thousands – take place in Pyongyang’s pumpkin- shaped May Day Stadium. Expect dance, acrobatics, gymnastics and music.
Mount Kumgang This mountainous national park on the east coast, close to the border with South Korea, features hiking paths along former Buddhist pilgrim trails, through forests and by waterfalls.
DMZ Take an excursion to the historically signifi cant De-Militarized Zone at Panmunjon. This is where the Korean War ended. Today it remains a tense international border dividing the two Koreas.
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