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For Surfing to North Korea

Holiday in North Korea: Every year, book several thousand tourists a Trip into the Kingdom of Kim Jong Us. To what extent can the organizer for the safety of the guests? And is that such travel is ethical?

For the first Time in North Korea was Markos core in June 2015. As a participant of an organized Group tour. He wanted out, he says, wanted with their own eyes a picture of the country make about the so much Bad to listen to. Also travel to unusual destinations, which belongs to him for life, says the 33 year-old about yourself. But the reactions of his environment at this specific destination are not only positive. “There immediately came the question: How can you something to do? So that you can play but only the leadership in the cards: The want tourism, want to the Forex. And every Dollar that you spend, comes a Regime of benefit, the tortures.”

Here, at the airport of Pyongyang, starts for the tourists, the experience of North Korea – in the spring of 2015, the new airport opened

Of course, he had also thought about the human rights situation. It could not be hinwegschauen. “But we’re also trading with other countries, in which bad things happen. And I don’t know anybody that says: I won’t go to China because that’s where the human rights are violated.” Markos Kern decided to go with the intent of the trip in case of doubt, also be stopped, if he felt he could have exploited to be, or at a point to come at which he ethical concerns would have had.

Packed the country and the people

The organization of the trip was have been very easy, within a few days, he had to get a visa, reported core, in Munich, a private consulting firm leads. “I have North Korea as a very pleasant experience. It has an extreme attraction exercised on me, because it is completely different than anything we know.” The country and its people is fascinating to the core – even if it is just a small and controlled neck got to see: Because tourism in North Korea is not with traveling to other countries is comparable. The guests are always accompanied by a guide, not alone in the Land to move.

Markos Kern was in the last one and a half years, three times in North Korea – and soon the next trip to

Also the contact with the North Koreans – which is exactly what Markos core are especially interested in – was available only in small dimensions is possible. “As a normal Tourist if one knows his Guides and speaks, perhaps, here and there briefly with a waitress or the lady at the front Desk. But there are actually very few situations in which you have with the people close to go.”

Providers rely on good preparation and etiquette-rules

Core traveled with the US-American tour operator, Uri Tours. For the past 15 years, there is the company that specializes in North Korea tourism, specializing. “We offer fully organised trips from Beijing or Shanghai. Our offers go from day trip to 2-week trip,” explains co-founder and Director, Andrea Lee. And also Unusual you can about Uri Tours to book: to participate in the annual Pyongyang Marathon, for example. Very important: Before the trip, the participants extensively about the customs and rules informed, you absolutely need to keep. “The tourists have to always be with your local Guides, the Hotel is not left alone and, for example, not a military photograph,” Lee says.

And: It is also forbidden to bleed photographs of members of the Kim family to make, reported Rubio Chan. He also offers trips to North Korea, founded together with a Partner in the year 2013, Hong Kong-sitting company “Eastern Vision”. And an emphasis on comprehensive preparation. “Our Team informed the guests about current political and social developments in the country.” About 300 guests have Chan and his staff so far, North Korea. Target group as Uri Tours, young people especially.

It is strictly forbidden, attached photos of the deceased rulers of North Korea, Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, to make

“Our offerings should go in depth,” says Chan. So would, for example, visits to secondary schools and universities on the program, where participants will also with students to engage in conversation could come. “There is also the possibility of farmers during the harvest to help or a Wasserflaschenfabrik to visit. We want our customers to simply the greatest impression in this country.”

The question of safety

Both Rubio Chan as well as Andrea Lee emphasize that North Korea was a safe travel Destination. “As long as the tourists to the applicable rules, don’t get in trouble,” says Lee. Safety have top priority. “We are always in close contact with our Liaisons in the country.” Never was a guest of “Eastern Vision,” in North Korea, something happens, says Chan. “Should such a case occur, we would to any possible support of local embassies on the ground to fall back on.”

The ski resort of Masik-Ryong is the only one of its kind in North Korea, was opened to the ambitious Prestige project of the leadership two years ago

Most of the clients from Uri Tours originate from the USA. The government in Washington, however, is the North Korea-tourism is critical. “The U.S. Department of state advises all U.S. citizens to urgently travel to North Korea.” It is on the website of the State Department. The entry dates from the 20. November 2015. “Foreign visitors in North Korea, arrested or expelled for things that in other countries is not as criminal acts would apply”, it says further.

No American Tourist is safe in the country, not even as a member of an organized Group tour. “You do not think that membership in a group or a Guide you have to protect and the North Korean authorities can hold, to capture you. Try private vendors, make arrests to prevent or mediate, were not successful and did not lead to a release.”

The ski area has been in accordance with international Standards built on nine downhill runs, and various ski lifts

Foreign citizens as bargaining chips

A few months later – on 22. January – it was announced that once again an American in Pyongyang, has been arrested: It is, with a tourist visa entrants students from Virginia would be “subversive acts,” accused. Been repeated in the past few years foreigners and imprisoned for long prison sentences, but then after consideration of foreign governments in or to operators of senior politicians released again. So travelled, for example, Ex-US President Bill Clinton in 2009 after North Korea, to two detained US journalists free.

Despite such reports, it attracts each year, Western tourists to North Korea. Several thousand of them, the official Figures are not found. Of course, keep track of travel on the messages from North Korea exactly. Of the arrest of U.S. students has also Rubio Chan belongs. “But the circumstances are in this case remains very unclear, so I can’t say more. If foreigners are arrested, are usually to cases of taboo breaches, for example, Tearing of Visa papers before the eyes of a North Korean Official.”

Surfing and skiing in a secluded country

The luxury ski resort stands in stark contrast to the messages of poverty, Hunger or human rights Abuses in North Korea

Markos Kern hunt, such notifications are not afraid. “I personally have no safety concerns. You just have to know the rules and follow them.” For the Germans was the North Korea trip in the summer of 2015 such a formative experience that he has since been two more times in North Korea. Now, it is no more than a normal Tourist, but as a Partner of Uri Tours. His consulting company is now trying together with the U.S. company, two new Tourismuszweige to build up and to make it known: It’s about Surfing on the East coast and to Ski in the only North Korean luxury Ski resort at Masik Pass.

Several trips to the sea and in the snow this year are in the program of Uri Tours. And with these tours – so says Markos core would be exactly the possibilities they offer, with the population to come into contact, which he desired to have. Because not only foreign tourists can participate, but also Locals and people were excited. “When Surfing, it is always several hours together in the water, and even if there is a language barrier, creates a certain kind of zwischenmenschlichem contact.” Also the constant monitoring of the North Korean side had virtually ceased to exist. As well as skiing at the Masik Pass. “This is a very large Ski-Resort, and it is also completely different from what the Locals used. If you are on such a road, the regulations noticeably looser.”

A matter of conscience

Why North Korea? What brings tourism to the country, the tourists, the travel agent? And is it ethical, tours in the isolated Kingdom of Kim Jong Us to offer?

Andrea Lee and Rubio Chan to come to a clear answer. “We firmly believe that tourism is more mutual understanding and peace between North Korea and the international community can build,” says Lee. And Chan believes that it is only through direct contact with citizens can succeed, mutual Fears and prejudices. Isolation bring North Korea to duration not to continue, he says. It go to exchange. “Therefore we organize trips to North Korea.”

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