As military tourism is gaining popularity around the world, some may confuse the concepts of war tours and unique donation tours to Ukraine from Visit Ukraine. Find out what is the fundamental difference between these two concepts and why donation tours have a much deeper meaning and benefit

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In general, tourism is one of the largest sectors of the global economy that is developing dynamically, focusing on the needs of consumers. Thus, recent decades have turned recreational travel from a luxury to a mass phenomenon. 

However, with the development of mass media and technology and the desalination of impressions from ordinary vacations, people around the world have begun to actively seek new ways to get emotions and new sensations. This is why adventure, extreme, and exotic tourism began to develop. And one of the areas that has been gaining popularity in recent years is military tourism. Today, 14 military tourism associations have been founded in Europe alone. 

At the same time, 2022 saw another boom in interest in military tourism in the world. In particular, the full-scale russian invasion has led to an increased demand for war tours to Ukraine and the development of this trend in the country in general.

What is war tourism?

Military tours can be different. The most popular destinations are:

– visiting places related to historical events of the past, such as museums and exhibitions of war or locations where significant battles took place;

– attending lectures and events on historical topics held for educational purposes;

– attending exhibitions and events dedicated to military equipment and weapons;

– direct participation in the testing of military equipment and weapons;

– living in military conditions and participating in military or medical training programs;

– visiting countries and places where direct combat operations are taking place.

The latter is often referred to as dark tourism, as it involves visiting places and historical monuments known for tragic events.

It is important to note that despite the active development and demand among tourists, war tourism has a mixed reputation. In particular, because there are many illegal companies offering dangerous trips to "hot spots". And, as a rule, such tours do not guarantee any safety for the consumer and do not offer proper insurance. As a rule, these trips are organized by extreme tourists who are looking for new experiences to get a "dose of adrenaline" and try something "on the edge of the limits."

Military tourism in Ukraine

The full-scale russian invasion has given a major boost to the development of military tourism in Ukraine. And now there are discussions in society about the appropriateness of such tours to Ukraine. 

On the one hand, it is emphasized that the opportunity to see with one's own eyes the destroyed houses, broken equipment and ammunition left behind by the russian invasion reflects the reality of war in the modern world and increases the level of support for Ukraine in the world. On the other hand, they note that the destroyed Ukrainian cities are not a place for mass visits.

However, foreign tourists who have visited Ukraine and seen the consequences of the russian invasion with their own eyes tend to support the idea that the opportunity to visit such places does open their eyes to what is happening and ignites a desire to support Ukraine and Ukrainians.

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What is the fundamental difference between war tours and donation tours to Ukraine?

Donation tours to Ukraine are a unique project, because it is not just an opportunity to see the brutality of russian aggression with your own eyes. It is a way to touch Ukrainian culture, communicate with Ukrainians, immerse yourself in the life of a country at war, and make a personal contribution not only to supporting the country but also to the common Victory. 

At the same time, each participant of our project will have the opportunity to choose the format of the tour and the area they want to join, and, accordingly, the area they want to donate to.

Arriving in Ukraine under the donation tour program, a tourist will be able to become a real volunteer for a few days and make a personal contribution to helping Ukraine and Ukrainians!

For its part, Visit Ukraine and its partners guarantee an individual approach to each tourist, taking into account all wishes and requests. Each item of the tour program will be discussed with the visiting party and will depend on the security situation in the locations chosen for the visit.

To learn more about the programs and format of donation tours to Ukraine, please follow the link. On Visit Ukraine's website, in the Donation Tours section, you can book a tour by choosing the format (within the city of Mykolaiv or with a visit to the villages of Mykolaiv and Kherson regions) and the destination to which the donation will be directed.

We are proud to be able to do good deeds and engage as many people as possible in supporting Ukraine. And we are also sincerely grateful to everyone who did not stay away from the terrible war that has shaken the security of the whole world and bravely stood side by side with Ukraine for peace and justice!

Book a donation tour to Ukraine on our website and make Ukraine one step closer to victory!

Photo: Libkos (Konstantin and Vlada Liberov)

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