The scene of the massacre is a tourist attraction...Ukra's 'War Tourism' Success

Ukraine, destroyed by Russia's invasion, is attracting attention as a new tourist destination, AFP reported.

According to reports, 4 million foreigners visited Ukraine last year, double the number in 2022 at the beginning of the war.

Most are for business purposes, but there are not a few "war tourists," the news agency said.

Currently, there are more than 10 companies that operate so-called "dark tourism" tours that tour the war crime scene, and they sell travel packages that tour the sites where Russia has slaughtered civilians, such as the capital Kyiv and Bucha, for 150 to 250 euros (about 220,000 to 370,000 won).

In addition, a travel agency sold tour packages in southern Ukraine close to the front for 3,300 euros (about 4.83 million won) for tourists who want to feel the "thrill of war" even at risk.Local companies operating

{war tourism} donate some of their profits to the Ukrainian military, but there is also a moral controversy about commercializing the grief of residents.

But Ukrainian tourism authorities are positively evaluating "war tourism" as a way to spread the historical lessons of war, AFP said.

Mariana Oleskiu, chairman of the Ukrainian Tourism Development Authority, said, "The war has increased interest in Ukraine. The war tourism industry has no choice but to grow," he said.

In fact, Ukraine is already preparing for the post-war period by signing deals with global tourism platforms Airbnb and TripAdvisor.