Pyongyang or bust: DPRK tourism and the pandemic – NKNews Podcast Ep. 196

North Korea News Podcast

North Korea was the first country to stop all international travel following the outbreak of COVID-19 in Jan. 2020, and it may well be the last to reopen after the pandemic finally ends. The self-imposed lockdown has had huge consequences for the country’s economy — including the small but not insignificant tourism sector. This week, three North Korea tourism professionals join the podcast for a roundtable discussion on the nature of the industry and what the future holds after the pandemic. Our guests — Rowan Beard, Simon Cockrell and Henry Marr — share their thoughts on the benefits of tourism for North Koreans and travelers, the challenges of working with DPRK travel agencies and how market forces have shaped the industry under Kim Jong Un. Rowan Beard is the North Korea tours manager for Young Pioneers Tours. Simon Cockrell is the general manager of Koryo Tours. You can find him on Instagram. Henry Marr is the author of the third and most recent edition of the Bradt Travel Guide on North Korea. About the podcast: The North Korea News Podcast is a weekly podcast hosted by Jacco Zwetsloot exclusively for NK News, covering all things DPRK — from news to extended interviews with leading experts and analysts in the field, along with insight from our very own journalists.