Despite its reputation as an isolated kingdom, North Korea may soon start to allow some tourists into the country for the first time since the covid 19 pandemic
For the first time since January 2020, flights on the state airline of North Korea, Air Koryo, started service in late August between Pyongyang, the capital, and Vladivostok, Russia. This action suggested that a wider reopening might be next.
Tour operators speculate on when they will be allowed to bring tourists back into the country because it is difficult to acquire information from North Korean authorities.
Simon Cockerell, The general manager of Koryo Tours, a China-based business that specialized in group travel to North Korea.
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He was one of many travel industry professionals left out in the cold in 2020 when North Korea slammed its already impenetrable borders shut.
Cockerell clarifies that there is no ministry of tourism. Therefore, there are no senior government officials or anyone of that nature participating in tourism. As a result of the patchy availability of information, he and his colleagues can only wait and speculate.
In order to keep afloat, though not at its earlier level, Koryo Group also runs tours to other Asian locations like Kazakhstan and Mongolia.
According to Cockerell, one of his business worries is that his website's Google exposure may suffer due to a lack of search engine interest in North Korean vacations.
While Cockerell sees the return of some international flights as encouraging, he claims that even if tour operators like his are permitted to resume their excursions, it's impossible to predict if vaccinations, quarantines, and other COVID-era regulations will still be in place.
Prior to the outbreak, travel to North Korea was permitted but severely limited.
