Travel agencies have informed that North Korea have once again allowed tourists in to the country. The country had imposed strict restrictions so as to prevent the spread of Ebola virus. In October 2014, the country had closed all its borders to non essential travel.
Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa has killed more than 9,000 people and North Korea is thousands of miles from the outbreak. So far no Ebola cases have been reported in Asia. Tourism is one of the main sources of currency for North Korea. People who were allowed in the country were kept under 21 days of quarantine and the restrictions were applied to the diplomats North Korean officials returning from overseas trips and NGO workers.
The Uri Tours said that the national airline informed that the ban on tourists has been lifted. The travel agency on its website said, “We have been informed by Air Koryo that North Korea’s borders are now open for travel and the four-month long Ebola travel ban was lifted as of Monday”. But still officials have said that the travellers from Ebola affected countries will have to be properly screened.
Majority of North Korea’s population live under extreme poverty and the health care system is not efficient enough to handle an Ebola epidemic.
Photo Credits: haveeru
