An Icelander hoping to sell group trips to North Korea has pulled the plug on the operation, citing negative press of the regime as being the major cause.
Vísir reports that Egill Örn Arnarson Hansen, the original organiser of the trips through his travel office Trans Atlantic, claims 20 people had signed up for the trip to North Korea since he first announced the trips last December. This was just under the amount that would be needed for a group trip, despite the 600,000 ISK per person price tag.
“We had a complete group, but when news stories about concentration camps and starvation in this otherwise fine country began to be reported, people started to cancel,” he told reporters. “Some of them said they would not be able to go anyway, due to criticism from family members.”
Egill tried his best to provide assurances, but to no avail. However, he hopes to make the offer again next Easter.
As reported, non-discounted fares for the trip to the totalitarian regime started at about 610,000 ISK, and include the hotel room, breakfast, and sight-seeing tours, amongst other things. Organisers cautioned that the price of the trip would not include flowers for the memorial to Kim Il Sung (16 euros per group), the elevator up Junche Tower (5 euros per person) nor service fees for North Korean guides.
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