Next gals trip away..?

Tourism at the Chernobyl disaster site has risen considerably since the debut of the HBO and Sky Atlantic mini-series. The show depicts the moments before, during, and after the accident that saw hundreds die as a direct result of the reactor explosion, and thousands more succumb to radiation poisoning as the years went on. Since the reactor exploded, the site of Chernobyl and the nearby village of Pripyat, have been spaces of intrigue, drawing visitors from across the globe desperate to get a glimpse at the poisoned world left vacant after the disaster. And following the success of the mini-series, it appears that tourism is booming - now more than ever. Reuters reports that one Chernobyl tourist agency has seen a 40 percent increase in bookings since the show aired on TV. Sergiy Ivanchuk, director of SoloEast tours, told the agency that he saw a 30 percent increase in tourists going to the area in May 2019 compared to the same period the previous year. He added that bookings for June, July, and August have increased by a further 10 percent since the HBO and Sky Atlantic show premiered. The director of Chernobyl Tour said that he expects a similar increase for his own company. English-speaking tours of the disaster site work out at about $100 (€88), with visitors getting a glimpse of reactor four and the exclusion zone, as well as a walk around the deserted town of Pripyat. Some tours even offer a lunch break in the only restaurant left in Chernobyl. Providing you're brave enough to eat there, of course. Chernobyl has proved to be a massive hit among audiences since its debut last month. One of the disaster's survivors, Dr. Janina Scarlet, said recently that she found it incredibly difficult to watch the first episode of the series, but that she hope she will be able to finish it in time.

"Seeing some of the characters being dismissive of the seriousness of the situation while seeing others dying from radiation sickness reminded me of the horrors that many of our people went through," she told Women's Health. 

"I found myself feeling the entire spectrum of possible emotions, including grief, horror, and sadness. I haven't been able to watch more than the first episode so far—but one day, I hope I may have the strength to watch it all."

The final episode of Chernobyl airs tonight at 2am on Sky Atlantic, or 9pm on Wednesday.