Running Head: DARK TOURISM 1

Dark Tourism

ENG101

Alexandra Avelar

Dark Tourism
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In most cases, the act of touring a new place or seeing a new world is exciting and

riveting. People enjoy visiting locations exotic or educational such as the infamous New York

city to see the great lady liberty and time square. People visit France to see the Louvre and the

Eiffel tower to feel cultured. Humans love to tour places of the unknown to discover a part of

themselves they never knew existed. Society is always increasing the knowledge of different

cultures and growing knowledge. When a person tours a new environment tourism is often

associated with the exhilarating parts of the country. What is usually forgotten when touring a

new perspective is dark tourism. Dark tourism is defined as places being visited that are related

to tragedy or death. Dark tourism is extremely controversial but it also has its virtues. Dark

Tourism is beneficial to society because it exhibits the history of the country, the adversity

people were subjected to, and can humble the human race.

In the world of tourism Dark tourism is also referred to as "greif tourism" or

"thanotourism" (Dermody, 2014). Dark tourism has recently become popular in the recent

passing years because of the history behind each and everyone one these death sites. Dark

tourism does have different typologies such as; Holocaust tourism, Battlefield tourism,

Cemetary tourism, slave-heritage tourism and prison tourism(Dermody, 2014). For example an

extremely popular dark tourist site are the concentration camps in Poland. The concentration

camps are visited frequently throughout the years and has been recorded that the younger

generation will tour the camp sites(User, 2017). In the year of 2014 the highest number of people

visited with the finally number of 1.5 million people from all over the world came to see this

death site(User, 2017). Putting a cost on visiting their ancestors death sites see this type of

tourism as offensive and a commodity. Although dark tourism can be derogatory in an

individuals ethics there are benefits to visiting dark tourism sites.

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It is valuable for people to take tours through the concentration camps because it times

stamps a part of history people who were born after that time and living now will never be a part

of. Being subjected to the type of environment people had to go through during that time can

help others make history not repeat itself. When viewing the concentration camps it can be

overwhelming meaning taking an individuals morality and putting it into perspective. Visiting

the concentration camps can also be extremely educational for people who are interested in the

history of Hitler and the Jewish community. This type of tourism is controversial with societys

ethical views but it can also enlighten and inculcate people to know if this disaster will happen

again. A study was conducted in 2006 on people ranging from ages 18-26 on their experience

visiting 13 different dark tourism sites(Tinson, 2015, pg.862).

In this study it consisted of 20 people who had visited dark tourism sites 11 of those

people were re-interviewed to show how this changed their perspective and positively

influenced them(Tinson, 2015, pg. 861). Thanotourism is often seen as unethical because as a

civilization death is seen as taboo or a subject most people are uncomfortable to talk about.

After the study when the people who were questioned most stated that viewing these death sites

were not interest in the macabre but that it brought opportunity to enhance self identity(Tinson,

2015, pg. 867). Dark tourism does subject tragedy as amusement which is offensive but it also

has a deeper meaning. It is seen as offensive that where people have suffered and were brutally

murdered is now seen as an attraction taking the seriousness away from the horrific event. People

who are against dark tourism are offended because it is exploiting their heritage publicly. This is

not the case thanotourism is seen as giving an understanding of the history within their heritage.

Another substantial benefit dark tourism has is it showcases the trials and tribulations the

individuals involved during that time had to endure. When people go visit these sites now such
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as the concentration camps, ground zero, or another popular site the Catacombs in Paris. Each of

these dark tourism sites shows a different type of history that each individual should learn about.

With the underground Catacombs in Paris this type of tourism shows how the country overcame

the epidemic of having too many cemeteries. Being able to visit this type of environment can

give individuals insight on France and their history. This type of tourist attraction can also be

knowledgeable to people and explaining why the residents of France felt it was necessary to

dispose of the deceased in this manner.

Although the Catacombs are intriguing people can disagree and say that this type of

tourism is unethical. The catacombs are a series of connected subterranean rooms, tunnels, or

galleries created for the interment of the dead (S, 2010). The religious aspect of this tourism is

why people pull away from visiting the Catacombs. Speaking upon religious beliefs, such as

Christianity the catacombs can be seen as extremely offensive. In the religion of Christianity it is

unethical to disturb the resting place of the deceased. This type of tourism could also offend

people who are religious because an individual who have passed on they need the proper burial

to put their body to rest. Although this type of tourist site can be offensive it can also provide

people with extensive information.

The subject of death can be daunting for most people to speak about. Dark tourism is a

controversial debate if it is advantageous or detrimental to humans. Being able to visit these

dark attractions is helpful in the long run when one needs to be educated on history.

Thanotourism is increasingly effective as the years go on because it educates people on how to

handle situations if history were to repeat itself.

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Referrence

Brennan, M., & Dormody, E. (2014). Dark Tourism . Retrieved from

http://go.galegroup.com.ez1.maricopa.edu/ps/i.dop=GVRL&u=mcc_chandler&id=GALE

|CX6107400064&v=2.1&it=r&sid=summon&authCount=1

S., M. (2010). Catacombs. In A. Grafton, G. W. Most, & S. Settis (Eds.), The classical tradition.

Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. Retrieved from

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http://libproxy.maricopa.edu/loginurl=http://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/har

vardct/catacombs/0?institutionId=506Close

Tinson, J. S., Saren, M. J., & Roth, B. E. (2015). Exploring the role of dark tourism in the

creation of national identity of young Americans. Journal Of Marketing Management,

31(7-8), 856-880. doi:10.1080/0267257X.2014.99520

User, S. (n.d.). Retrieved December 02, 2017, from

http://70.auschwitz.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=82&Itemid=173

&lang=en