North Korea has banned Western influencers and content creators from joining a rare tourist delegation to the Pyongyang Autumn International Trade Fair in October, according to China-based tour operator Young Pioneer Tours (YPT).
The restriction, revealed Monday, marks a significant move by the reclusive regime, which has cautiously reopened its doors to select international visitors after years of pandemic-related isolation. The ban comes despite a growing number of slick, influencer-produced videos from inside North Korea that have circulated online in recent months.
YPT announced over the weekend that it would lead a group of foreign tourists to North Korea from October 24 to November 1. However, the tour is not open to journalists, travel content creators, or influencers, a limitation reportedly imposed directly by Pyongyang.
“This was a specific request from the North Korean side,” YPT co-founder Rowan Beard told AFP. “We anticipate that once the country officially reopens, there may be stricter scrutiny or limitations on influencers and YouTubers joining tours.”
The €3,995 ($4,704) tour will depart from Beijing and includes entry to North Korea’s largest international business event, featuring over 450 booths showcasing machinery, IT, pharmaceuticals, and household goods. The itinerary also includes a VIP briefing by the Pyongyang Chamber of Commerce and visits to major landmarks in the capital and Mount Myohyang, marking the first Western visit to the sacred site in more than five years.
Though North Korea hosted hundreds of foreign athletes for April’s Pyongyang International Marathon, its first in six years, the regime has not yet resumed welcoming foreign media or business delegations at pre-pandemic levels.
China, once the primary source of tourists and business travelers to North Korea, remains its closest ally. Yet, diplomatic analysts note that strained ties over Pyongyang’s support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine may be contributing to the current lull in Chinese visitor numbers.
While the October tour offers rare access to the isolated country, the ban on influencers reflects Pyongyang’s continued caution over its global image and a desire to tightly control narratives shared beyond its borders.
Written By Rodney Mbua
