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☆ Pets, sports, and Disney might end up rescuing China's ailing consumer economy
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-13 | by ( Kelly Cloonan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewA family dog, tennis, and Disney Shanghai's LinaBell character have one thing in common — they might end up pulling China out of a long slump in consumer demand. Those rapidly growing areas are poised to drive a rebound in China's anemic consumer spending, Bank of America analysts say. China's pet economy is seeing outsize spending as pets come to occupy a greater place of prominence in households. Finally, the analysts see significant growth potential in the country's "cultural IP" economy — spending on books, movies, and experiences based on fictional characters or storylines. China's economy has been stuck in the doldrums amid weak consumer spending.

Persons: —, that's Organizations: Service, Disney, Bank of America, Business, Consumers Locations: China

☆ Students and startups are building the next generation of space exploration technology
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-12 | by ( Amy Gunia | Woojin Lee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Editor’s Note: Tech for Good is a series that highlights young innovators developing technology to improve our world. Cast your vote below to help us decide what projects to feature in a special episode of the show, airing in November. Today, private companies dominate space launches and tourism, but entrepreneurs across the world are working on technology to make space exploration cheaper, more sustainable, and more efficient. On campuses and in classrooms everywhere, students are working on ideas that could seed a new generation of startups. Innovation like this could be crucial to continue the revolution that’s gripped the space industry in recent decades.

Persons: Phil McAlister, McAlister, “, “ They’re, ” Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, SpaceX, Companies, CNN, Tech, ETH Zurich, Polytechnique Locations: Hong Kong, Switzerland, Japan, Canada

HANOI, Vietnam — A flash flood swept away an entire hamlet in northern Vietnam, killing 22 people and leaving dozens missing as deaths from a typhoon and its aftermath climbed to 141 on Wednesday. Vietnamese state broadcaster VTV said the torrent of water gushing down from a mountain in Lao Cai province Tuesday buried Lang Nu hamlet with 35 families in mud and debris. Floods and landslides have caused most of the deaths, many of which have come in the northwestern province of Lao Cai, bordering China, where Lang Nu is located. Lao Cai province is also home to the popular trekking destination of Sapa. Many roads in the province were blocked by landslides and unrelenting rainfall, said Sapa tour guide Van A Po.

Persons: VTV, Lang, Yagi, Lao Cai, Van, Nguyen Van Luong, ” Organizations: Sapa, Tourism Locations: HANOI, Vietnam, Lao Cai, Lao, China, Sapa

☆ A Neom executive reportedly complained about having a meeting on a Sunday evening after 3 workers died
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-11 | by ( Tom Carter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewA Neom executive reportedly complained about having an emergency meeting on a Sunday evening following the deaths of three employees working on Saudi Arabia's megaproject estimated to cost between $500 billion and $1.5 trillion, according to a bombshell Wall Street Journal report. Wayne Borg, a former Fox Corp executive, reportedly described Neom's blue-collar workers from the Indian subcontinent as "f—ing morons" and said "that is why white people are at the top of the pecking order." This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Citing current and former Neom employees, the Journal reported that three workers were killed by a falling pipe, a collapsing wall, and mishandled explosives. Neom told the Journal it has a zero-tolerance policy toward inappropriate workplace behavior.

Persons: —, Wayne Borg, we've, Borg, Prince Mohammed bin Salman's, Neom Organizations: Service, Saudi, Fox Corp, Business, Journal, BBC, Neom Locations: Saudi Arabia, Saudi

☆ Spanish city billboards urge British tourists to keep their clothes on and behave appropriately
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-11 | by ( Jack Guy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Authorities in the Spanish city of Malaga have posted billboards that aim to educate tourists on appropriate behavior during their visit, including one that reminds them to wear clothes. Now, city hall has launched a campaign that aims to cut down on some of the more visible examples of bad behavior. “Both on the street and in public places always wear an upper garment for respect and hygiene.”Another billboard from the campaign. The city is one of many in Spain and its islands that is pushing back against the impact of tourism. In May, there were further crackdowns on party boats and public drinking on the islands of Ibiza and Mallorca.

Persons: Costa, ”, Amarachi Orie Organizations: CNN, Authorities, del Sol, Malaga Tourism, Costa del Sol, – Locations: Spanish, Malaga, del, Andalusia, Spain, United Kingdom, Barcelona, Ibiza, Mallorca, Canary

☆ Indonesia is halting new hotel building in Bali, citing rampant overtourism
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-10 | by ( Joshua Nelken-Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Indonesia is halting new hotel construction in parts of Bali due to overtourism concerns. Go to newsletter preferences Thanks for signing up! download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementIndonesia says it will suspend the construction of new hotels in parts of Bali, driven by concerns over the strain overtourism is putting on the tourist-friendly province. According to Reuters, Indonesia has agreed to a moratorium that will also apply to building villas and nightclubs in the busiest parts of Bali.

Persons: —, it's, overtourism Organizations: Service, Reuters, CNN Locations: Indonesia, Bali

☆ Visiting China in 2024: A guide to visas, mobile payments and more
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-10 | by ( Maggie Hiufu Wong | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +20 min

We’ve put together a guide to some of the most frequently asked questions regarding China travel. China travel FAQsDo you need a visa to go to China? However, travelers visiting under these visa-free transit programs have more restrictions in terms of places they can visit. Exploring the country via China’s vast high-speed railway network is not an option for those entering under the two transit visa schemes. Beijing, China's capital city, accepts international travelers visiting under the 144-hour visa-free transit program.

Persons: it’s, ”, Denny Tian, Gabriela Correia, Correia, Tian, Greg Baker, Correira, ” Gabriela Correia, David Tucker, We’ve, John Seaton Callahan, China ’, Kevin Frayer, –, ” Correira, you’ve, Didi, Uber, Yan Cong, China’s Organizations: CNN, Immigration Administration, China, Google, Getty, “, Service, Shanghai Hongqiao, Hong Kong, Hong, Hong Kong Immigration, Travelers, Facebook, ”, Publishing, United, US, Baidu, Apple, China Railway, Bloomberg Locations: China, Beijing, Portugal, Shanghai, AFP, “, Hunan, Singapore, Thailand, Austria, Australia, Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, New York, Japan, South Korea, United Kingdom, United States, Hong Kong, Macau, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Asia, Tibet, Tibet Autonomous Region, Hainan, China's, Hawaii, ”, Canada

☆ Rapper Ye is set to perform a controversial show in China this week — and many are wondering why
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-10 | by ( Serenitie Wang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

"This is Hainan trying hard to forge its branding as an international destination," said Michael Zhou, founder of Jingjian, a consultancy specializing in China tourism. The tropical island of Hainan, dubbed the "Hawaii of China," has long been a top travel destination for domestic tourists. According to Zhou, the bulk of Hainan's tourism income comes from hotel stays and duty-free shopping. "As it is the largest duty-free channel in China, Hainan's duty-free sales decline is inevitable," said Charlie Chen, head of Asian Research at China Renaissance, a financial institution. Ye and the China connectionCDF Haikou International Duty Free City is one of many duty-free malls on the Chinese island of Hainan.

Persons: Du, Ye, Michael Zhou, Zhou, netizens, Ye's, Charlie Chen, Hainan's, Luo Yunfei Organizations: straitlaced Communist Party, Communist, Hainan's Provincial, of Statistics, Haikou, Asian Research, Duty, China News Service, Getty Locations: Hainan, Shanghai, China, Weibo, Beijing, Ye, Hawaii

☆ Intra-African tourism drives economic growth across the continent
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-10 | by ( Jackelyn Prager | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: 1 min

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☆ SpaceX launches 4 people, including a billionaire, on the most ambitious private human spaceflight yet
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-10 | by ( Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | Mikhaila Friel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The Polaris Dawn mission is a fully private spaceflight, commissioned and funded by a billionaire. Godspeed Polaris Dawn crew, may you make history and return safely." High radiation and the first commercial spacewalkOnce they settle into orbit, the Polaris Dawn crew has a five-day agenda packed with experiments and a bold spacewalk plan. AdvertisementA SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, carrying the crew of the Polaris Dawn Mission, entered space on Tuesday. So the Polaris Dawn crew plans to fly through a belt of intense radiation and monitor their hearts, airways, and eyes along the way.

Persons: —, it's, Elon Musk's, Anna Menon, Sarah Gillis, Scott Poteet, Jared Isaacman, SpaceX Menon, Gillis, Poteet, Isaacman, Frank Messina, SpaceX's, CHANDAN KHANNA, John Kraus, Polaris Dawn, Abhi Tripathi, they're, Tripathi, Starship's, Isaacman haven't Organizations: Service, Polaris, Business, SpaceX, US Air Force, Mission, Polaris Dawn, Apollo, Polaris Program, UC Berkeley's Space Sciences Laboratory, of Liberty Locations: Mars, Cape Canaveral , Florida, Texas

☆ Bali considering a ban on new hotels amid overtourism struggles
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-10 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

The moratorium is part of the government’s bid to reform tourism on Bali, one of Indonesia’s main attractions, to try to boost quality and jobs while preserving the island’s indigenous culture. The governor’s office and Indonesia’s tourism ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Monday. Luhut has previously said about 200,000 foreigners now live in Bali, contributing to problems such as crime, over-development and competition for jobs. Foreign arrivals in Bali have surged since it re-opened for tourism after the COVID-19 pandemic. There were 541 hotels in Bali last year, the figures show, up from 507 in 2019.

Persons: Hermin, Sang, Mahendra Jaya, Luhut Pandjaitan, Luhut Organizations: Reuters —, Coordinating Ministry of Maritime and Investment Affairs, Reuters Locations: Reuters — Indonesia, Bali, Indonesia

☆ ‘Perfect waves and no crowds:’ Angola could be the surfing world’s best-kept secret
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-09 | by ( Claudia Elorza | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Their business is dedicated to promoting Angola as a surf destination while supporting local communities and sustainable development in the surf tourism industry. But it’s the prevailing winds, which bring long waves and easy surf, that make it a surfing paradise. It’s known locally as “Praia do Surfistas,” or Surfers’ Beach. The Angola Waves team provides them with cooked meals to keep energy levels up for huge ocean sessions. “I will miss surfing these perfect waves with no crowds!”

Persons: Bizuka Barros, Golan, Barros, Henrique Almeida, ”, Paulo Agusto, “, Gillas Cros, Paulo Rodrigues, It’s, Tchyina Matos, Matos, Cabo Ledo, ” Agusto, Ledo, Sergio Torres, Cecilia Organizations: CNN, Reuters, Praia, Radical Association, Angola, NASA Locations: Hawaii, Portugal, California, Australia, Angola, Portuguese, Israel, Luanda, Cabo Ledo, wilder, Catanas, Tomuba

☆ Greece doubles down on its anti-cruise rebellion
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-09 | by ( Nora Redmond | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Greece will charge cruise passengers €20 ($22) to visit some of its most popular islands. Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Go to newsletter preferences Thanks for signing up! download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

Persons: —, Kyriakos Mitsotakis Organizations: Service, Business Locations: Greece, Venice, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Athens

☆ Maui could soon ban some Airbnbs. Short-term rental owners say it will be financially devastating for them.
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-08 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

When researching the properties, he confirmed their tax status as short-term rentals on the county site. Jason Gobey, another short-term rental owner, told BI he researched and spoke to real-estate agents as well as others before buying his one-bedroom condo in Kihei in 2019. He also said he confirmed the property's tax status as a short-term rental and had no idea there could be an issue with it. Though some of the Minatoya List properties will likely be converted to long-term rentals, Church said it is not financially feasible for him. But the benefit of adding the Minatoya List properties to the housing stock is that they are already built.

Persons: —, Andrew Church, Mario Tama, Richard Bissen, Church, Jason Gobey, Gobey, Smith, Justin Tyndall, Tyndall, that's, it's Organizations: Service, Business, Church, Owners, Maui, Maui Planning, University of Hawaii Locations: Maui, Lahaina, Barcelona, New York City, South Maui, West Maui, Kihei, Arizona, Manoa

☆ 5 careers in the space industry that new grads should focus on, according to a VC
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-07 | by ( Robin Madell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. A 2024 report from McKinsey & Co. estimates the global space economy will balloon to $1.8 trillion by 2035, fueled by advances in AI. Chad Anderson, founder and managing partner of Space Capital, one of the first early-stage VC firms to focus exclusively on the space economy, told Business Insider that the space economy has plenty of technical career paths available. Anderson — who's invested in dozens of space ventures, including SpaceX, moon landers, satellites, and space tech, and founded Space Talent, an online resource for jobs in the space field and tech industry — shared his perspective as a VC on the top five careers in space that are on the rise. Specifically, expect heightened demand for orbital interior designers, space suit designers, space station industrial designers, and other lifestyle consultants for long-term tourism trips and crewed platforms.

Persons: —, Chad Anderson, Anderson — who's, landers, Anderson —, Anderson, they'll, you've, it's Organizations: Service, McKinsey & Co, Space, Business, SpaceX, Talent, Software, of Defense, NASA

Lansky said he was inspired by a discussion he had with a pilot he sat next to on a flight years ago. When the safety demonstration video began, “I noticed he wasn't paying attention to it. “You really need to kind of visualize actually lifting the flap,” Lansky told CNBC Travel. “Oh yes,” a U.S. flight attendant with more than two decades of experience told CNBC Travel. He said he asked flight attendants how many times they bump passengers elbows, knees and feet on long-haul flights.

Persons: ”, Doug Lansky, Lansky, “, ” Lansky, I've, you’re, “ We’ll, they've Organizations: CNBC Travel Locations: U.S

☆ A boomer who worried about retiring in the US and Canada moved to Mexico, which he said is much cheaper and safer
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-05 | by ( Noah Sheidlower | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Read previewRon Allanach, 74, and his partner Ben Lorgeranon moved to Vancouver from New England in 2005, thinking they would stay there for their retirements. The city is safer than he imagined, prices for nearly everything are much lower, and healthcare is more reliable. Allanach said they felt safer in Mérida than in the US or Canada, and prices were lower. They stayed there between trips back to Vancouver, and they moved to Mérida fully in 2020. AdvertisementA street in Mérida, Mexico.

Persons: —, Ron Allanach, Ben Lorgeranon, Allanach, Mérida, they've, Mexico Allanach, Lorgeranon, couldn't, it's, Allanach's, that's, he's, Mercado Lucas de Gálvez Organizations: Service, Business, US Postal Inspection Service, Costco Locations: Vancouver from New England, Mérida, Mexico, Vancouver, Canada, Portland , Maine, Portland, Thailand, France, Yucatán, Angeles, expat, they're

☆ Fyre Festival II has no lineup, no location, and no actual date — but mastermind Billy McFarland insists it's still happening
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-05 | by ( Palmer Haasch | Olivia Singh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Here's everything we know about Fyre Festival II — and be warned, it's not a lot. "It really all started during this seven-month stint in solitary confinement," he said in the Fyre Festival II announcement video. When and where is Fyre Festival II? Who's on the lineup for Fyre Festival II? He also said he was working with "one of the biggest production companies" on a deal to produce "Fyre Festival: The Broadway Musical," which is admittedly much more intriguing than the prospect of another Fyre Festival itself.

Persons: —, Billy McFarland, McFarland, it's, Heath Miller, wouldn't, Victoria Medvedenko, Cooper Sinkiawic, they're, Netflix McFarland, I've, McFarland didn't Organizations: Service, YouTube, Business, Twitter, Entertainment, Netflix, Ministry, Tourism, CBS News, The, Wall Street, WSJ, Coral, Fyre, Fyre Media, Washington Post, CBS, Karate Locations: Great, Bahamas, New York, Fyre, Caribbean, The Bahamas, Honduras, Belize, Turks, Caicos, Jamaica, Panama, Coral View

☆ American demand for international trips drives 'travel momentum' and overall spending
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-02 | by ( Greg Iacurci | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Travel spending among American households continues to outpace its pre-pandemic levels, a trend underpinned by a zeal for international trips, according to new Bank of America research. "A key part of travel momentum lies within vacationing abroad," Taylor Bowley and Joe Wadford, economists at the Bank of America Institute, wrote in a note Wednesday. Overall, travel spending is down slightly from 2023, yet it remains "much higher" than 2019 — up by 10.6% per household, they wrote, citing Bank of America credit and debit card data from January to mid-August. About 17% of Americans said in June that they intended to vacation abroad during the next six months, up from roughly 14% in 2018 and 2019, according to a recent Conference Board survey. "I do expect the demand to continue," said Hayley Berg, lead economist at travel site Hopper.

Persons: Taylor Bowley, Joe Wadford, Taylor, Wadford, Hayley Berg, Hopper Organizations: Bank of America, Bank of America Institute, Finance, Board

☆ Macao did it. Singapore too. Now Thailand looks to build casinos to attract tourist dollars
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-02 | by ( Charmaine Jacob | In Charmainemariajacob | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Thailand is working on a new game plan to boost foreigner arrivals and increase tourism spending: casinos. The strategy has worked for Macao — which has overtaken Las Vegas as the world's largest gambling hub — and Singapore, with two successful 14-year-old casinos. If Thailand's draft bill gets passed into law, the country could be Macao and Singapore's largest competitor by the end of the decade, industry watchers told CNBC. If the law gets passed, Thailand's casinos could generate 187 billion Thai baht ($5.5 billion) in revenues, or 1% of the country's GDP, according to Maybank research. The Thai economy grew 1.9% in 2023, and is expected to grow 2.7% this year, the finance ministry said.

Persons: Ben Lee, —, Lee, Srettha Thavisin, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Yin Shao Yang Organizations: Macao, Las Vegas, CNBC, IGamiX Management, Consulting, Tourism, Thai, Investment Bank Locations: Pattaya, Thailand, Singapore, Macao, Macau

☆ A look at the behind-the-scenes business of Hollywood studio lot tours
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-31 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +12 min

Hosted by Universal , Warner Bros. , Sony and Paramount , studio lot tours showcase the movie-making process from set design and sound recording to costumes and props. Building facades at the Warner Bros. studio lot. Floor to ceiling shelves filled with marble and faux marble busts at Warner Bros.' studio tour prop house. Studio Tour Hollywood Grand Re-Opening at Warner Bros. Studios on June 24, 2021 in Burbank, California. For the first six months of their employment with the studio, these pages serve as studio tour guides.

Persons: Tama, Robert Thompson, Adam Burke, Burke, Thompson, Mayer, Sarah Whitten, Tony Tasset, Oz, bauer, Foley, Gilmore, Harry Potter, Matt Winkelmeyer, Paul Dergarabedian, Alfred Hitchcock's, Truman, Benjamin Button, Steven Spielberg, Gabriel Bouys, King Kong, Allen J Organizations: Getty, Hollywood, Syracuse University, Universal, Warner Bros, Sony, Paramount, Los Angeles Tourism Board, Los Angeles Department of Public Works, Sony Pictures, Metro, Goldwyn, CNBC, Social, Sony Pictures Entertainment, CNBC Warner Bros, Warner Bros ., Fantastic, Studios, Turner, Paramount Studios, Bloomberg, Universal Studios, Afp, Universal Studios Hollywood, York, Los Angeles Times Locations: New York City, Los Angeles, Culver City, Central, Burbank , California, Los Angeles , California, York, Hollywood, New York

☆ Turkmenistan’s flaming ‘Gates of Hell’
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-30 | by ( Joe Yogerst | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Darvaza, Turkmenistan CNN —Rarely does an industrial accident develop into a major tourist attraction. Mysterious originsNo one is quite sure when the gas crater opened, apparently because the Soviet-era reports are missing, incomplete or still confidential. Reaching DarvazaThe gas crater lies a four-hour drive north of Ashgabat, the national capital. Located around a five-minute walk from the crater rim, the camp features yurts with beds and chairs, a shaded dining area and porta-potty/outhouse-style toilets. Garagum lies about a 10-minute walk from the crater rim and even closer to a small rocky mount where visitors can snatch a bird’s-eye-view of the Gates of Hell.

Persons: Hell, Joe Yogerst “, ”, Ged Gillmore, Dylan, wasn’t, George Kourounis, who’s, Kourounis, I’ve, Garagum, “, there’s Organizations: Turkmenistan CNN, Central, Geographic, NASA, futon, CNN Travel Locations: Darvaza, Turkmenistan, Soviet, Central Asian, “, Central Asia, Canadian, Ashgabat, Iwanami_Photos, Bokurdak, Darwaza, porta, Hell

With a plum position atop many "Best Places to Travel" lists, Japan is on track to welcome a record-breaking number of travelers in 2024. Summer trips are up too, with inbound bookings doubling since last summer, a representative from the travel website Trip.com told CNBC Travel. In 2019, China welcomed some 49.1 million travelers — as of July this year, around 17.25 million foreigners had arrived, according to Chinese state media. "The USD/JPY exchange rate [moved] from approximately 140 in January 2024 to over 160 by July 2024, making Japan more affordable," said Chakraborty. But a Pew Research Center report shows that, among 35 surveyed countries, more than half have unfavorable views of China.

Persons: Trip.com, Joydeep Chakraborty, Chakraborty, Jasmine Leung Organizations: National Immigration Administration, CNBC Travel, Japan, Japan Federation of Service & Tourism Industries Workers ' Unions, East Asia, Pew Research Center, France — Locations: Japan, China, Kiyomizu, dera, Kyoto, United States, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Saharan Africa, Asia, Malaysia, Thailand, Australia, South Korea

☆ I went to Venice for the first time. I loved it, but I won't go back due to the massive crowds.
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-23 | by ( Joey Hadden | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Tourists flock to Venice, Italy, for its canals and historic architecture, causing overtourism. I visited Venice in 2022 and saw how mass tourism negatively impacts residents, so I won't return. Go to newsletter preferences Thanks for signing up! You can opt-out at any time by visiting our Preferences page or by clicking "unsubscribe" at the bottom of the email. AdvertisementThe reasons tourists travel to Venice, Italy, are obvious.

Persons: —, haven't Organizations: overtourism, Service, Business Locations: Venice, Italy

☆ I've been to North Korea more than 180 times. Here's how tourists can stay out of trouble.
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-23 | by ( Hannah Abraham | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

The first time I went to North Korea, I thought I knew what to expect. AdvertisementIn the two decades since then, I've visited North Korea more than 180 times on various tours and trips — perhaps the most of any Westerner. Pictured with a North Korean tour guide in front of a statue of North Korean leader Kim Il Sung in Pyongyang. Steer clear of comparisons to South KoreaA lot of tourists who come to North Korea have experience in South Korea as well (it's not true that visiting South Korea makes it difficult to enter North Korea). Simon's travel documents on his 180th trip to North Korea - boarding pass for Pyongyang, DPRK visa, and a well-used passport.

Persons: —, Simon Cockerell, I've, Kim Il Sung, you've, — it's, Kim Jong, I'm, they're, Simon, Joss Stone, Steer, haven't, it's Organizations: Service, Business, Pyongyang Airport, South Locations: Koryo, North Korea, Beijing, China, Russia, —, Korean, Pyongyang, Korea, South Korea, DPRK

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