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North Korea Wants Americans to Come Over and Play, Please

January 21, 2010 at 3:20 PM | by | Comments (3)

The recession is hitting everyone and every tourist destination quite hard, so much so that North Korea is trying make nice with the United States to get some tourism dollars back into its struggling economy.

Sure, there's that little nuclear weapons issue and that whole 200,000 political prisoners matter, but North Korean leader Kim Jong-il is willing to let bygones be bygones and allow more Americans into the country. Kim is asking South Korea's Hyundai Group to restart its tours, which crossed over through the North, in an effort to lure in more tourists. But don't expect to do any exploring on your own during these trips. Such tours, which would begin in China and probably go for about about $1,000 to $2,175, would carefully rein in US travelers.

For example, Americans would be permitted to stay for up to four nights at specific hotels designated for foreigners. If the tours are a go, be prepared to be barraged with guides showing you monuments, statues and other homages to the country's leaders. A walk-through of the gulags likely won't be included unless you misbehave.

But the lift on the U.S. tourist restrictions would finally give us a chance to check out Pyongyang, the capital of this somewhat mysterious, isolated land that not many Americans have had the opportunity to see. Who knows, North Korea might end up being this new decade's hottest travel spot.

Related Stories:
· Cash-short North Korea opens up to U.S. tourists [Reuters]
· 2009's Destination of the Year Is... [Jaunted]
· What Do You Think Was The Biggest Hotspot Of The Decade? [Jaunted]

[Photo: yeowatzup]

Comments (3)

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Enough?

Is this a REAL opening of their borders? I'm curious to see details. A nuclear plant tour may be enough to get folks over, though.
hosteldog on January 22, 2010 at 8:25 AM #Permalink

Nothing wrong with it!

I have been on a tour of north korea, I went with Koryo Tours, and for your information quite a number of americans were on the tour with me, however americans can only go during an open window which is usually around august/september. Hosteldog, don't be so ignorant!
andz23 on January 22, 2010 at 7:27 PM #Permalink

Restrictions

Actually, the restrictions were recently lifted and American can go anytime of year now.
WanderlustCraig on April 28, 2010 at 7:37 PM #Permalink

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