Plan to Invest 1 Billion Rubles in Battlefield Tours and Hotel Restoration
Criticism Grows Over "Propaganda and Profit Motives" Amid Infrastructure Collapse
Russia has announced a plan to develop Donetsk, one of the most intense battlefields of the war in Ukraine, into a "war tourism" destination to generate revenue. This attempt to turn the tragedy of war into a tourism resource, despite the severe destruction of local infrastructure, has drawn international criticism.
An apartment building damaged by Russian military attacks in the frontline area of Dobropillia, Donetsk Oblast. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News Agency
According to The Times of the UK on December 23 (local time), Kirill Makarov, Deputy Prime Minister of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) established by Russia, mentioned the so-called "war tourism" initiative and stated that they plan to guide tourists to "key points of military glory."
The development of tourism in Donetsk is part of Russia's "tourism and hospitality industry" project, which is set to be promoted as a national policy starting next year. Deputy Prime Minister Makarov announced that approximately 1 billion rubles (about 18.7 billion won) would be invested in restoring hotels and tourism infrastructure, but did not disclose specific details about how the funds would be raised.
Donetsk has been the site of fierce fighting since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. In particular, tens of thousands of Russian soldiers are estimated to have died in the Battle of Bakhmut, and the port city of Mariupol has been virtually reduced to ruins due to large-scale bombardment.
Debate Over the Feasibility of Tourism Development Amid Infrastructure Collapse
Although Russia controls most of Donetsk, Ukraine continues to hold the western region as a defensive stronghold, and fighting is still ongoing. This has led to widespread skepticism about whether a tourism industry is actually feasible.
Ukrainian journalist Halya Koynash pointed out, "1 billion rubles is nowhere near enough to restore the destroyed infrastructure," adding, "It is questionable whether tourists will come to an area lacking water and fuel." In reality, Donetsk suffers from chronic water shortages due to the destruction of water supply facilities, and residents rely on wells or rainwater for their daily needs.
An apartment building damaged by a Russian military attack in the Kostyantynivka front-line area of Donetsk Oblast. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News
Nevertheless, Russian President Vladimir Putin has described the Donbas region, which includes Donetsk and Luhansk, as "fertile ground for tourism development" and has encouraged investment. The Russian-appointed mayor of Mariupol has expressed hopes of attracting 1 million tourists by 2030, but acknowledged that the city's basic infrastructure has been severely damaged.
The Mariupol Drama Theater, where hundreds of refugees were killed in a Russian bombing in March 2022, has recently been restored and is set to host its first performance during the upcoming New Year holiday. Ukraine has previously stated that at least 20,000 civilians were killed by indiscriminate Russian attacks in the early stages of the war.
The Mariupol City Council, currently in exile in Dnipro, strongly condemned the move, saying, "The invaders are trying to turn the city's tragedy, ruins, and mass graves into tourist attractions and tools of Russian propaganda," and added, "All of this serves only one purpose: to make as much money as possible."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
