North Korea Bars Western Influencers from Trade Fair Tour
Diplomatically isolated North Korea has welcomed sporadic groups of international visitors in recent months, including hundreds of foreign athletes in April for the first Pyongyang International Marathon in six years.
China has historically been the biggest diplomatic, economic and political backer of North Korea, which remains under crippling international sanctions.
Travel agency Young Pioneer Tours (YPT) said on Saturday it would take a group of foreign tourists on a trip to the authoritarian state from October 24 to November 1.
However, the tour would not be open to journalists, travel content creators or influencers, the company said on its website.
YPT co-founder Rowan Beard told AFP the curbs on creators were "a specific request from the North Korean side".
"We anticipate that once the country officially reopens, there may be stricter scrutiny or limitations on influencers and YouTubers joining tours," Beard said.
The company had "no visibility" on when Pyongyang would restart official media delegations, he said.
Several online influencers have shared slickly produced videos from inside North Korea in recent months.
Chad O'Carroll, founder of specialist website NK News, said many influencers tend to have larger audiences than professional journalists, but "they are normally working without editors and tend to gain extra views through sensationalist-style content".
"North Korean authorities likely see few benefits and major risks with allowing social media influencers to visit the country, given what we saw earlier this year," O'Carroll told AFP.
"The result is a community of potential visitors who, in DPRK authorities' minds, are not likely to produce content that is favorable to state interests," he said, using North Korea's official name.
Lavish gifts
The YPT tour, priced at 3,995 euros ($4,704), will depart from the Chinese capital Beijing and take in the Pyongyang Autumn International Trade Fair, North Korea's biggest international business exhibition.
Participants will have a "unique chance" to stroll through more than 450 trade booths exhibiting machinery, information technology, energy, pharmaceuticals, consumer goods and household items.
YPT also said the Pyongyang Chamber of Commerce would "hold a VIP presentation for us for an in-depth overview and insights into the (North Korean) economy".
The itinerary also includes major sights in Pyongyang as well as the first Western visit in more than five years to Mount Myohyang, which boasts a museum of lavish gifts presented to former North Korean leaders.
Chinese people used to make up the bulk of foreign tourists and business visitors to the isolated nuclear nation before it sealed its borders during the Covid-19 pandemic.
However, numbers have not rebounded despite Pyongyang's post-pandemic reopening, a trend that some analysts have attributed to Beijing's anger at North Korea's explicit support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
38 minutes ago
- Arab News
Lebanon bets on Gulf tourists to rescue its collapsing economy
RIYADH: Lebanon's tourism sector is placing its hopes on international and Gulf visitors to help steer the country through a financial crisis that has gripped the nation since 2019. As Beirut's clubs and restaurants increasingly operate in US dollars, the city's tourism and nightlife have emerged as fragile yet essential pillars of the economy, largely propped up by private investment. The ongoing financial collapse — now in its sixth year — has created an $80 billion gap in the banking sector, with debt restructuring stalled amid persistent political gridlock. Since 2019, the Lebanese pound has lost more than 90 percent of its value, while the country's gross domestic product has contracted by nearly 40 percent. The 2024 Hezbollah-Israel conflict further devastated the economy, inflicting widespread damage on tourist regions. In response, the World Bank approved a $250 million loan in June as part of a broader $1 billion recovery program, estimating the total cost of the conflict at $7.2 billion, with reconstruction needs reaching $11 billion. A defiant party amid the ruins In early June, fireworks lit up the sky above Beirut's iconic St. Georges Hotel during a retro-themed event hosted by the Tourism Ministry, reviving memories of Lebanon's golden age in the 1970s — a time when Gulf tourists filled its beaches, mountain resorts, and vibrant nightlife. Today, that nostalgia is being reimagined for a new generation of affluent travelers. With the UAE and Kuwait lifting travel bans — and Saudi Arabia possibly following — high-end venues are pinning their hopes on a luxury tourism resurgence. But renewed tensions in the region have cast a shadow over those ambitions. Lebanon's tourism sector has seen 'some cancellations in hotels, (flight) tickets, and car rentals,' Laura Lahoud, Lebanon's tourism minister, told Arab News in an interview, acknowledging the impact of regional tensions. 'We are surely affected by the current situation in the Middle East, same as all the region. But if Lebanon remains neutral and does not take sides — as the president and prime minister are insisting — we can save the season,' Lahoud added. Her optimism hinges on a fragile ceasefire between Iran and Israel. 'Hopefully, it will go back to normal,' she said, while emphasizing that festivals and events remain untouched, except for the Beiteddine Festival, where 'performers are from the US.' The dollar hustle While Lebanon's currency has collapsed, poverty has tripled, and the banking sector remains frozen, a parallel economy is flourishing in Beirut's upscale neighborhoods like Gemmayzeh and Mar Mikhael. Security is part of the appeal. Army patrols have become more visible in tourist areas, and Hezbollah banners along the airport road have quietly given way to billboards promoting 'A New Era for Lebanon.' But the real driver is privatization. With the state largely incapacitated, private investors — mostly dealing in US dollars — are fueling a boom in luxury tourism, pouring money into beach clubs, rooftop lounges, and curated VIP experiences that operate outside the formal economy. 'The private sector has always been a main driver,' said Lahoud, defending the government's role as a facilitator rather than a funder. 'Our role is to guide, organize, and direct investment into new sectors, new regions, and new ideas.' Yet, some argue this model is unsustainable. 'The dollarized tourism economy has a negative impact on domestic tourism,' warned Jassem Ajaka, an economist and professor at the Lebanese University. 'Prices become high for residents, especially if pricing is applied equally to tourists and locals. This is unsustainable because the dollar is not the country's official currency,' he explained in an interview with Arab News. Geopolitical gambles The stakes could not be higher. Lebanon's agricultural and industrial sectors lie in ruins. Once accounting for 20 percent of GDP, tourism has emerged as the fastest route toward restoring ties with Gulf countries and reviving the economy. President Joseph Aoun has made outreach to the Gulf a top priority, traveling to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE to present Lebanon as 'open for business.' Lahoud emphasized that rebuilding tourist confidence in Lebanon 'is the main objective.' She outlined plans to achieve this through comprehensive government reforms, coordinated airport improvements, streamlined visa processes for GCC families, shorter checkpoint delays, and the promotion of year-round tourism across all sectors. 'Before some Gulf countries removed the travel ban, Arab tourists were limited to Egyptians, Iraqis, and Jordanians,' said Jean Abboud, president of the Association of Travel and Tourist Agents in Lebanon. 'Demands from Gulf countries were growing steadily, especially from the Emirates, Kuwait, and Qatar. But due to the current conflict between Iran and Israel, everything has changed,' he told Arab News. The fallout is immediate. 'We, as tour operators nowadays, avoid including the south in our programs due to the unexpected problems,' Abboud added. Lahoud stated that the ministry is collaborating closely with all industry groups to create unique visitor experiences in Lebanon. She added they plan to develop long-term policies and digital tools to support both city and countryside activities, and encourage vital small and medium investments across all regions. Risky bet 'Over the past couple of years, I've noticed a shift toward a younger crowd — but interestingly, they're spending more,' says Marco Khadra, ambassador at Factory People, a Beirut-based group organizing many of the country's major music festivals. 'There's a clear appetite for nightlife, even among younger demographics,' Khadra told Arab News. But security concerns loom large. 'Some people, including international acts, have felt Beirut isn't safe, and that affects bookings and attendance,' Khadra admitted, adding: 'Perception plays a big role in this industry.' For bartenders like Lynn Abi Ghanem, who left Beirut for the Gulf, the sustainability of this boom is questionable. 'Not in the long run,' she said of the shift toward Gulf tourists. 'Tourists come for a short time, but it's the locals who keep bars running all year. Without them, things feel off and won't hold up.' The staffing crisis is another weak link. 'There are a lot of talented workers who aren't paid what they deserve,' Abi Ghanem added. 'If things don't change, many will keep leaving.' A mirage of recovery? Hotels have reported occupancy rates of 80 percent ahead of the summer season, while flights are operating at near capacity with expatriates and Gulf tourists. Yet Lebanon's recovery remains precarious. 'Even though tourism's contribution to the gross domestic product increased after the crisis to about 30 percent, this was due to the economic contraction,' explained Ajaka. 'We cannot say the sector has recovered because recovery depends on political stability and investment inflows.' For now, the party continues, sustained by Gulf investment and the relentless drive of Beirut's nightlife entrepreneurs. But as Ajjaka conceded: 'The biggest enemy of tourism is any security obstacle.' And in a country where crisis is the only constant, the stakes have never been higher.
Arab News
4 hours ago
- Arab News
Pakistan PM defends tough structural reforms, says country can't afford ‘business as usual'
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday strongly defended his government's structural reform agenda, particularly in tax administration, saying that difficult and often unpopular decisions were necessary to rebuild national institutions, as the country could no longer afford 'business as usual.' Speaking at an orientation session for participants of the Uraan Pakistan youth program, Sharif recalled the fragile economic conditions he inherited after assuming power following last year's general elections. He noted that Pakistan had narrowly avoided a sovereign default in mid-2023, when inflation surged to nearly 38 percent, before securing a critical bailout package from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The prime minister said his administration took on the 'onerous task' of stabilizing the economy under immense pressure, choosing to pursue long-delayed reforms rather than temporary fixes. 'Pakistan had to undertake these long-overdue, deep structural changes if we had to find our lost place in the comity of nations through hard and untiring efforts,' he said. Sharif pointed to a set of key reforms aligned with IMF recommendations, including the digitization of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). He noted the transition from paper-based tax systems to digital and AI-led processes was already bearing fruit. 'Faceless interactions — these terminologies were unknown in FBR,' he said, adding that one previously underperforming sector saw its tax contribution rise from Rs12 billion to over Rs50 billion within a year due to improved enforcement. The prime minister said his administration had prioritized accountability, removing senior FBR officials accused of corruption and resisting political pressure in doing so. 'It's a long and thorny journey,' he continued. 'We are facing bumps on the way and mountain-like impediments. But I can assure you, we will not shy away from discharging our responsibility.' Sharif maintained that merit would remain the cornerstone of his governance model. 'Delivery is the name of the game,' he said. 'Performance is the name of the game.'
Arab News
5 hours ago
- Arab News
Sports Ministry organizes hiking event in Baha
RIYADH: The Baha branch of the Ministry of Sports, together with the Saudi Climbing and Hiking Federation, organized a hiking program as part of the 'Color Your Summer with Sports' campaign. The event was held in cooperation with the region's municipality and health cluster as part of the Baha Summer Season, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday. Bandar Al-Ghamdi, director of the ministry's branch in Baha, said the program included 120 people. The event took place in natural locations that reflect the region's landscape, he added. Baha's mountains, valleys and dams offer suitable areas for various sports, including mountain and water activities, he said. These features support the region's role in sports tourism in the Kingdom. Al-Ghamdi added that the program is part of a plan to develop the sports sector in Baha and build partnerships with sports federations. The initiative aims to support the local economy and attract sports and tourism visitors, from the Kingdom and beyond, Al-Ghamdi said.
