Korean Central Telegraph Agency reportscrowds of foreign visitors, mostly from Europe.
However, it doesn't give any specific numbers. The country's authorities claim this
considerable increase in the tourist flow to be a result of "outstanding socialistic
achievements of Democratic People's Republic
of Korea". Russian tour
operators have, too, noticed increasing interest towards the destination, but for
their own reasons.
"Russians have been taking more and
more interest in North Korea
– over the previous year alone, the flow has grown by 30%", the Director General
of Koreana Tour Ms. Galina Ten shared with RATA-news. Group tours for May holidays
are mostly in-demand, but we do have more and more FITs as well. Ms. Ten also notes
this year's good start; the sales depth reaches June. "Our 13-day tour "Two
countries – two Koreas"
based on a flight to Beijing
was doing pretty well last year, she said. Usually we have large groups for May
holidays, but this year departures from April 27 to May 11 have been booked, too".
There is some demand for the Flower Fest dedicated to Kim Il-Sung's birthday celebrated
in April.
According to Galina Ten, these groups
mostly consist of VIP-tourists. "Of course, we warn them that there are simply
no deluxe five-star hotels in North
Korea and that they must closely follow the tour's
schedule". A one-week package to Korea
via Vladivostok
goes for around €1900 per person. It includes a return airfare from Vladivostok to Pyongyang,
three meals daily, accommodation, insurance and admission tickets.
Among main advantages of North Korea, the
expert named absolute security and proficiency of local guides. "Probably,
you won't find guides this good elsewhere. Their Russian is faultless, they posses
detailed knowledge of the country's history and culture, which they present extremely
well".
The Oriental Discover Company has been
offering North Korea
for only two years, so the tourism manager Ms. Anna Umarova reserves judgment on
the demand trend, only saying that the destination arouses persistent interest with
Russian tourists. Since the beginning of the year there have been just a few requests
so far. She is sure that it's a must to visit Korea during the grand Arirang Festival
confined to the day of the establishment of the republic. "The hours-long performance
attracts many tourists from all over the world, so one must take care to get a Korean
visa well in advance – best of all, a couple of months before the departure".
Bookings for September festivities usually start in May, while tours for May holidays
are arranged around February. The company has announced a week-long group tour departing
on April 30 on their website, and people are already inquiring about the trip.
The cost of seven-day package amounts
to €1450 including return flight from Beijing to
Pyongyang and visa
fee of €50. One can get to Beijing
by either Aeroflot or China Airlines for around €450-500. So the grand total for
the trip stands at €2000 per person. The program is packed with visits to national
parks and waterfalls, cultural sites, Buddhist temples, palaces to name a few. A
subway ride in Pyongyang
also counts as an excursion. "Last year, we sent there a group of our loyal
customers – a party of middle-aged men, who had already travelled the whole world.
And they came back thrilled to bits with the country that resembles the Soviet Union
so much", Ms. Umarova shared with RATA-news, adding that a trip to the DPRK
can be rightfully considered nostalgic for a good many of Russians.
