”See the battlefields of Ukraine”...Tourism item sold for 520,000 yen

Ukraine, which has been invaded by Russia, is attracting attention as a new tourist destination. According to AFP on the 27th (local time), 4 million foreigners visited Ukraine last year, and the number of foreigners who visited the country increased by 1.5% in the last year.
This is about double the number of visitors compared to the initial estimate of 2022. Most of them are visiting for business purposes, but there are also a significant number of "war tourists," the agency said. Currently, so-called "dark tourism" is taking place, where people visit war crime sites.
There are more than 10 companies that run "Massacre" tours. One of them, "War Tours," offers tours to the capital, Kiev, Bucha, Irpin, and other sites where Russia committed civilian massacres.
The seller sells the items for 150 to 250 euros (approximately 24,000 to 40,000 yen). The seller said that about 30 people have visited the shop since January this year, and that his customers are mainly Europeans and Americans.
Alberto Blasco Ventas (23) from Spain said he also signed up for the company's travel package in order to experience the horrors of war firsthand.
Despite his family's protests, he flew to Moldova and then took an 18-hour train ride to Ukraine.
"This is my first time in a war zone," said Alberto. "It's true that it's a little scary, but you won't know until you get there."
This is a business aimed at tourists who want to take risks and get a stronger sense of the "thrill of war."
There are also travel agencies offering tours to southern Ukraine, close to the front line, for 3,300 euros (approximately 525,000 yen).
Nick is an American who works in finance at an IT company in New York.
Tan is one of these "thrill-seeking" tourists. Nick said, "I felt that life in the West was too easy and comfortable, so I wanted to see the battlefields first-hand," and wanted to get closer to the front lines.
The tour guide said he was trying to get into the area but was stopped by the guide. Local companies that run war tourism donate a portion of their profits to the Ukrainian military. However, there has been some moral controversy.
However, Ukrainian tourism authorities view "war tourism" as a way to widely disseminate the historical lessons of the war, AFP reported.
"The war has increased interest in Ukraine. The war tourism industry can only grow," said Mariana Oleskiv, head of the Ukrainian Tourism Development Agency.
In fact, Ukraine is already preparing for the post-war period, having signed agreements with global tourism platforms Airbnb and TripAdvisor.