European Seaside Resort Attracts Dark Tourism

The town is now empty and quiet, but it's becoming popular with tourists again.

This coastal resort was once a favorite spot for Hollywood stars, but now it's a ghost town. However, it's attracting a new type of tourist.

Varosha is near the well-known holiday spots Paphos and Limassol in Cyprus. It was once a glamorous destination that attracted famous people like Elizabeth Taylor.

In 1974, Turkish forces invaded Cyprus, and the people of Varosha had to leave their homes. The town was changed forever, and the 15,000 inhabitants had to evacuate.

The beach and old hotels in Varosha are now open again.

The town became a ghost town with empty buildings. The area is still frozen in time, and the beaches are now home to sea turtles.

In 2020, the Turkish President and the Prime Minister of Northern Cyprus decided to open Varosha to visitors again. Now, a different type of tourist is visiting the town.

Over 1.8 million tourists have visited Varosha in the past four years. They are drawn to the town's history and its old, empty buildings.

A professor from the University of Nicosia said that Varosha is now a popular spot for dark tourism, with guided tours and coffee shops.

The professor also said that Varosha is being used as a tourist destination, but the people who lived there before 1974 are not allowed to return.

There are many abandoned buildings in Varosha.

The town has been cleaned up, and there are now amenities like beach umbrellas and canteens.

Recently, the situation in Varosha was discussed at a meeting in Oslo.

A senator from Italy visited Varosha and presented his findings at the meeting. He hopes that the town can be restored to its former state.

Dark tourism has been around for a while and has been featured in a Netflix show called Dark Tourist.

A dark tourism enthusiast said that this type of tourism involves visiting places associated with death and tragedy.

The enthusiast also said that social media platforms like TikTok have made it easier for people to discover and visit unusual and spooky places.

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