CHERNOBYL EXCLUSION ZONE AS A UNIQUE TOURIST DESTINATION
Authors: Khudoba Volodymyr , Skabara Roman , Samartseva Mariia 
Published: July 2021

The publication highlights the features of the Chernobyl tourism product. The most attractive objects in the exclusion zone are characterized and singled out, which include: Pripyat; Chernobyl observation deck and sarcophagus; secret radar station "Duga" (Chernobyl-2); red forest; kindergarten in Kopachi; cooling tower; abandoned cargo port.

It have been found that the release of a number of documentaries and the HBO series "Chernobyl", numerous computer games, including STALKER and Isotopium, simplification of the visit to the zone are main factors that influencing the development of tourism in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. It is established that the number of visitors to the "exclusion zone" of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant for the period from 2015 to 2019 has been increased extremely rapidly. If we compare the flow of visitors from 2015 to 2019, we can see an increase from 8 to 124 thousands. It has been discovered that in 2019, 80% of tourists were foreigners. It has been investigated that in 2020 there was a decrease in the flow of tourists, which was caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

It is estimated that the volume of services provided by tour operators made on the basis of the cost of Chernobyl Tour services in 2019 amounted to approximately 11 million USD. This, in turn, confirms the popularity of this tourist destination, both among domestic and foreign tourists and thus brings good profits.

Current tourist and excursion routes have been considered. Chernobyl routes are usually standard. Tourists usually get from the checkpoint to Chernobyl, then the nuclear power plant, Pripyat, one of the villages where the natives returned, dinner in Chernobyl and return to Kiev. Currently, 22 routes are officially registered, including five water, three air, one bicycle and 13 bus routes. An author’s tourist route to the art objects of Pripyat has been developed, where you can simultaneously see and feel the atmosphere of the Soviet times, the impact and consequences of the man-made catastrophe and make content against the breathtaking graffiti.

Research has been conducted in the form of a survey of potential tourists to establish a portrait of the consumer of this tourist product. 178 people took part in this survey, including 117 (65,7%) women and 61 (34,3%) men. According to the results of the survey, it can be concluded that tours to the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone are interesting mostly for young people and adults aged 19 to 35, who have an average monthly income from 5 to 15 thousand UAH.

The main problems of tourism development of the study have been considered. Among the most sufficient finding for the development is not only tourism, but also the area as a whole. Under tourist developed infrastructure and unsatisfactory of security services organization, which causes illegal entry into the exclusion zone of stackers. Another problem in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone is forest fires, which causes huge damage, including tourism. As a result of the 2020 fires, the territories of the former villages of Leliv, Kopachi, Poliske, Grezlya, Rudnya-Grezlyanska, Kovshylivka, Varovychi, Buda-Varovychi, Martynovychi, Smaragdovy, Volkhov, Chistogalivka burned down, the territory of the Red Forest burned down, the pioneer camp "Kazovekovy" Chernobyl-2, the city of Chernobyl has been affected. As a result, a unique objects on tourist routes has been lost.

Among the prospects for the development of tourism in the Chernobyl zone can be noted the introduction and improvement water and air routes, the creation of various quests, arrangement of places for sport fishing and photo hunting. Good prospects for the tourism development in the exclusion zone will have the following types of tourism: extreme, scientific, environmental, nostalgic, industrial, nuclear or dark. Effective use of tourism potential is one of them aim prior the development of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone.

Keywords: tourism, Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, attractiveness, tourist resources.