Tourist number doubles at DPRK's annual marathon, as tensions ease

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01:01

Twice as many foreigners as last year gathered in Pyongyang on Sunday for the city's annual marathon, tour companies said, as reduced tensions see visitor's number rise in the DPRK.

The event, part of the celebrations for the anniversary of founder Kim Il Sung's birth in 1912, is the highlight of the tourism calendar and offers the chance to run or jog through the streets of the tightly-controlled city.

Around 950 Westerners participated in the event, according to market leader Koryo Tours, compared to some 450 last year when numbers slumped.

According to a U.S. government official cited by CNN, DPRK leader Kim Jong Un was careful not to raise tensions with the U.S. with any inadvertent movements before the summit.

"As political tensions have subsided, tourism demand has increased," said Mr. Elliott Davies, director at Uri Tours, another operator, adding: "You could plot a graph in this direct relationship."

The vast majority of tourists to the DPRK are Chinese and some 5,000 Westerners a year used to visit the DPRK – with about 20 percent of those from the United States.

The annual race also attracts so-called "Marathon Chasers" who tick off runs around the world, said Mr. Matt Kulesza, a senior tour guide at Young Pioneer Tours.

Mr. Angel Arnaudov, a 34-year-old engineer from Macedonia, said Pyongyang came onto his "radar" after finishing more than 30 marathons in cities including Tokyo, New York, and Copenhagen.

"I want to experience the life in the DPRK myself and see if it is like they say on TV or different," he said, adding he would be posting videos on his YouTube channel.

For third-time participant Jasmine Barrett, the Pyongyang Marathon was an opportunity to interact with the ordinary audience who line the streets to cheer on the runners, offering high-fives and posing for selfies.

"I keep coming back because I love to see the smiles on the children's faces," the Australian entrepreneur told AFP. "I'd definitely recommend it to others because it's a great way to see the city and the people who live there," she added.

Tour operators advise visitors to take extra precautions about "what to do and what not to do" when traveling in the DPRK.

Mr. Simon Cockerell, Koryo Tours' general manager, said: "This is vital when visiting the DPRK and anyone wanting to travel shouldn't go without a briefing."

Source(s): AFP