North Korea has prohibited Western influencers and content creators from joining a tourist delegation scheduled to visit the country during an international trade fair this October, according to a China-based tour company.

Although the secretive state has recently allowed limited groups of foreigners to enter such as international athletes who participated in April’s Pyongyang Marathon, held for the first time in six years the latest restrictions indicate a selective approach to foreign access.

Young Pioneer Tours (YPT), a travel agency that specializes in trips to North Korea, announced on Sunday that it will lead a tour group from October 24 to November 1. The trip will include attendance at the Pyongyang Autumn International Trade Fair, the country's largest commercial exhibition.

However, YPT clarified on its website that the trip will not be open to journalists, travel vloggers, or social media influencers.

YPT co-founder Rowan Beard told AFP that the exclusion of content creators was “a direct request from North Korean authorities.”

“We expect tighter scrutiny of YouTubers and influencers until the country fully reopens,” Beard said, adding that there’s currently “no indication” of when official media delegations might be allowed in again.

In recent months, some influencers have managed to share highly produced content from within North Korea, raising questions about who is permitted entry and under what terms.

The upcoming tour is priced at 3,995 euros (approximately $4,704) and will begin in Beijing. Travelers will be able to explore over 450 booths at the Pyongyang trade fair, featuring sectors such as energy, information technology, pharmaceuticals, machinery, consumer products, and household goods.

As part of the itinerary, the Pyongyang Chamber of Commerce will host a special presentation to offer insight into the country’s economic landscape, according to YPT.

Tourists will also visit key landmarks in the capital and make a rare journey to Mount Myohyang, a scenic and symbolic location that houses a museum filled with gifts once presented to North Korean leaders. This would mark the first Western visit to the mountain in over five years.

China, historically North Korea’s main diplomatic and economic ally, used to be the primary source of tourists to the country before Pyongyang sealed its borders due to COVID-19. Although the country has reopened post-pandemic, foreign tourist numbers remain low.

Analysts suggest that Beijing’s dissatisfaction with Pyongyang’s open support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine could be a contributing factor to the muted return of Chinese visitors.