Ever since HBO's Chernobyl hit our screens, the real-life area has been a talking point among many. There has been a rise in tourism to the area while 'Instagram influencers' were slammed for taking insensitive snaps.
Wowcher jumped on the bandwagon and started offering tourist getaways to the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone but the discount voucher company has now been slammed by some for having 'distasteful adverts'.
The 'once in a lifetime experience' will set you back £169 ($213) with one of the activities reading: "Get your blood pumping with a short drive through the western radioactive trace and tuck into a lunch (strictly non-radioactive cuisine)".
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Off the back of this advertisement, a UK-based charity that has worked to help children affected by the 1986 disaster has slammed Wowcher, saying that the company has been 'insensitive' and claiming it makes light of the ongoing effects, The Mirror reports.
Chernobyl Children's Project (UK) offer children affected by the nuclear explosion the chance to holiday in Britain.
Their executive director, Linda Walker, told The Mirror: "It's wonderful that the drama has brought to attention the ongoing effects of the disaster but it's just a pity so many people seem to be going over there just to take selfies with these places.
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"People need to remember there are millions of people still suffering with health problems because of the explosion and more than 100,000 have died as a result.
"We continue to see children being born with cancer because of the radiation and people should be sensitive to that before taking up this offer.
"They should think about what actually happened and be considerate to the victims who continue to suffer as a result of the disaster."
But a spokesperson for Wowcher disagreed with the comments that the offer is 'distasteful', saying: "We do not believe that promoting tours of Chernobyl is distasteful or makes light of the ongoing effects of the disaster.
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"The HBO series Chernobyl has revived interest in Chernobyl and, in particular, in the clean-up efforts that followed the disaster.
"In the same way that we may promote holidays that visit other historically important areas such as trips to New York which include tours of the site of the World Trade Centre, or trips to Japan which include a day in Hiroshima, we offer these tours as we believe that it is important to remember these tragic events and commemorate those that died in these atrocities."
Featured Image Credit: Wowcher