Proceedings of the International scientific and practical conference ―Science at the Frontier of Progress‖ (June 8-10, 2026) / Publisher website: www.naukainfo.com. – Paris, France, 2026. - 178 p.

93 First, there is the question of drawing the line between educational tourism and entertainment. For most visitors, a trip to Chernobyl offers an opportunity to witness firsthand the consequences of the 20th century’s largest man-made disaster, to grasp its scale and impact on people’s lives and the environment. At the same time, a certain category of tourists perceives the zone primarily as an unusual location for photography or a source of thrills. In such cases, the educational and memorial aspects of the visit take a back seat, yielding to the desire to obtain unique content for social media. The so-called ―selfie culture,‖ featuring entertaining photos taken against the backdrop of abandoned schools, hospitals, residential buildings, or other sites linked to the fates of thousands of people, is perceived by society as a sign of disrespect toward the memory of the disaster’s victims and those who worked to mitigate its consequences. Furthermore, an excessive focus on creating sensational content can create a distorted view of the actual events of the Chernobyl disaster. Preserving historical memory is an equally important ethical issue. In our view, Chernobyl should not be reduced solely to a tourist brand or a commercial product, as it is, first and foremost, the site of a massive human tragedy. That is precisely why tour routes should not only showcase abandoned sites and the consequences of the accident, but also provide visitors with accurate information about the causes of the disaster, the evacuation of the population, the work of the cleanup crews, and the environmental consequences of radioactive contamination. Only under these conditions will tourism contribute to the preservation of collective memory. Despite the existence of clear visiting rules, some individuals attempt to enter restricted areas, deviate from designated routes, or remove various items from the zone as souvenirs. Such actions not only pose a threat to visitor safety but can also damage sites of historical and memorial significance. Furthermore, rule violations create a negative image of Chernobyl tourism and hinder its further development. At the same time, advocates for the development of tourist routes emphasize that it is precisely controlled and professionally organized tours that allow the truth about the Chernobyl nuclear accident and its consequences to be conveyed to a wide audience. Such visits help raise historical awareness and foster environmental responsibility. Provided that ethical standards are observed and a responsible approach is taken, tourism can serve not only as a means of learning but also as an important tool for historical education and public reflection on the tragedy. The development of tourism in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone has both positive and negative consequences. Among the positives is, first and foremost, the spread of knowledge about one of the greatest man-made disasters in human history. Tours allow visitors to see the real consequences of human error and to realize the importance of the safe use of nuclear energy. In addition, Chernobyl tourism contributes to growing international interest in Ukraine. Statistical data from the State Agency of Ukraine for the Management of the Exclusion Zone show that citizens from various countries around the world actively visited the exclusion zone. In 2019, 79% of all visitors were foreigners, meaning that the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone is a site of not only national but also global significance. The largest number of foreign tourists (15%) came from the United Kingdom. Foreign visitors also included Poles, Germans, Americans, Czechs, and others. Ukrainian citizens accounted for only 21%. [8] It should be emphasized that visiting the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone helps raise awareness of the consequences of man-made disasters, the development of nuclear energy, and environmental safety issues. At the same time, international interest in Chernobyl contributes to promoting Ukraine on the world stage, shaping its image as a tourist destination, and expanding cultural and scientific ties with representatives of other countries. The economic impact of tourism is also significant. Revenues from tours, transportation services, tour operators, and related infrastructure create additional opportunities for the industry’s development. In analyzing the development of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, Ukrainian researchers V. Dmytruk, L. Dyachenko, and N. Hrynyok focus particularly on economic dynamics. The researchers assert that the growing trend in tourist flows during the 2010–2021 period and the high levels of financial revenue for Ukraine resulting from foreign visits to the Chernobyl zone—amounting to 22. 6 million euros in 2019 indicate sound prospects for the revival of Chernobyl tourism in the post-war period due to the unique appeal of tourist sites that have been preserved almost intact at the site of the planet’s largest man-made disaster. [9] At the same time, one of the negative consequences is the risk of commercializing the tragedy. In the pursuit of profit, some organizers may emphasize sensationalism and exoticism rather than the historical significance of the events. This leads to the tragic context gradually fading into the background, giving way to the commercial appeal of the route. As a result, a superficial perception of the place as a tourist attraction, rather than a space of remembrance, takes shape.