Articles tagged “north korea”

U.S. to Ban Tourist Visits to North Korea

Matthew Lee, Associated Press

The ban, starting in September, comes after a U.S. student died from an injury after detainment in a North Korean prison. While Skift believes free travel is a right and is also helpful geopolitically, this may be an exceptional case.

What Travel to North Korea Says — And Doesn’t Say — About Adventure Travel

Steven Schwankert, Skift

The death of a young American illustrates the continuing risk for niche operators committed to taking travelers to remote and risky parts of the world, including North Korea. They’re called risky for a reason.

Tour Operator That Brought American to North Korea Has Unprofessional Reputation

Gerry Shih, Associated Press

The founder of Young Pioneer Tours left the company to form GN Tours, which at one point stood for Gross Negligence tours. That about says it all.

Trump Administration Mulls Banning U.S. Travel to North Korea

Josh Lederman, Associated Press

Travel bans seem to be the Trump administration's new favorite weapon. Muslim bans, laptop bans, individual travel to Cuba bans and now a proposed travel ban to North Korea. We aren't recommending a vacation in North Korea but an outright ban doesn't seem the way to go.

North Korea Thinks Its Newly Reopened Luxury Hotel Will Help Attract Tourists

Eric Talmadge, Associated Press

North Korea seems to have some understanding that it needs attractive and luxury hotel offerings to attract wealthy tourists but that means nothing when its government remains a ruthless tourist repellent.

North Korean Airline Begins New Service to China

Associated Press

Given the current geopolitical climate, we wonder how in demand this route will be.

Tension Between South Korea and China Is Hurting Tourism

Heejin Kim, Bloomberg

The economies of China rivals South Korea and Taiwan are reliant on spending from Chinese travelers.

5 Reasons That Flying Air Koryo, the World’s Worst Airline, Isn’t All That Bad

Bloomberg

North Korea's in a unique position as it tries to grow its tourism arrivals. Travelers want to see the isolation and oddities and are willing to extend that fascination to the plane ride into the country.

North Korea Is Wooing Tourists But It’s Still Paranoid About Security

Eric Talmadge, Associated Press

Just like visiting the Soviet Union in the 1980s, but with worse food and none of the whimsy.

North Korea Is Getting Its First Low-Cost Carrier

Kyunghee Park, Bloomberg

Pyongyang’s Airport Internet Lounge Has Everything But the Internet

Eric Talmadge, Associated Press

Who needs the Internet when you have a chocolate fountain?

North Korea Pins Latest Tourism Hopes on Becoming a Surfing Hot Spot

Associated Press

Something tells us Kim Jong-un is highly proficient at harshing the mellow of even the most chill of surfers.