A rise in so-called ‘dark tourism’ in recent years has brought with it both positive and negative impacts, according to a new report.
The 2024 edition of GlobalData’s Geopolitics in Travel & Tourism report says the dark tourism niche within the travel industry has increased in popularity with some tourists and that specialist tour operators are setting up as result, with other established players also beginning to cater to the space.
Dark tourism revolves around the exploration and contemplation of sites associated with death, tragedy and suffering.
Destinations typically are often imbued with historical, cultural or natural significance, such as former battlefields, concentration camps, disaster zones and memorial sites. Famous dark tourism destinations include Auschwitz, the Tower of London the 9/11 memorial in New York, the prison of Alcatraz, Pompeii, Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Chernobyl.
“The rise of dark tourism is due to the interest in locations and memorials that have significant historical significance and emotional resonance – often associated with issues such as slavery, war, terrorism, and death,” explains GlobalData’s report.
It adds: “While the initial definition of dark tourism may not sound attractive to the typical tourist, it is popular among mainstream city trip-takers, with many not realising they are engaging in dark tourism.”
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While some operators align themselves explicitly with dark tourism and cater for the morbid fascination of some travellers, the vast majority of tourism in this area is driven by a desire for historical or cultural understanding. Indeed, many tourists within the dark tourism niche will be unaware of its label. Similarly, some industry players have become associated with the niche unintentionally.
For others, there has been a conscious move to harness dark tourism, with historically significant locations being preserved and turned into sites of interest.
“Countries that are emerging from the disastrous impacts of terrorism and conflict could turn to dark tourism as a way to increase visitation, educate people and begin a new chapter as the country seeks to recover,” the report says. It also notes, though, that dark tourism can paint a negative image of destinations, which some is not always welcome by local populations.
“For areas looking to put the past behind them and emerge stronger, this type of tourism can be seen as a step backward,” the report says. “As a result, some tourist boards have worked hard to promote the wonders that the destination holds – especially if it has rich cultural and natural aspects.”
Syria is one location where dark tourism has emerged. Some companies are offering tours to view war-torn archaeological sites there, but this is inherently risky in a country where war is ongoing. While such tourism could potentially aid Syria’s economic recovery and raise awareness of its plight, the country’s fragile infrastructure is also not equipped to handle an influx of tourists – themselves at risk due to the security situation.
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