Sociology of Tourism - Tourism: Principles, Practices, Philosophies - page 251

E GLOBAL INSIGHT E

Dark Tourism
D ark tourism is a rather perverse view of the world in the eyes

The definition of dark tourism may also be expanded to include
sites where killing wars are currently being conducted. Iraq and
Afghanistan are such examples, where both worldwide media
and the truly adventurous tourists are drawn to the ''action.''
Lesser-known dark attractions include sites where hangings or
executions are to occur, are occurring, or have occurred.

of many. Based on the defining book by John Lennon and
Malcolm Foley, 9 the term dark tourism refers to the ''attraction of
death and disaster''—or more specifically perhaps, those sites
where death and disaster have occurred and that attract tourists.
Auschwitz, the German death camp, is probably the most
infamous of all dark tourism sites. Despite its reputation, Dachau,
near Munich, is the most important in terms of visitation, with
more than 900,000 visitors per year.

As emphasized by the Tourism Society, the area of dark tourism
has become a fascinating and important subject for research
regarding its implications for the tourism industry and its
fundamental relationships within the cultural condition of society
as a whole. Despite this elevation to academic status, dark
tourism must still be viewed as perverse by nature.

Both Auschwitz and Dachau have spawned a number of
memorial sites associated with Nazism and the Jewish Holocaust.
While many sites are located behind the former Iron Curtain,
there is a growing effort by the Jewish community and others to
build parallel memorials in many other countries. Just as the
Holocaust museums are highly popular in tourism terms, they are
followed closely by remnants of the Berlin Wall and, more
recently, Ground Zero in New York.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What is dark tourism?

2. Why has dark tourism been growing in sites and popularity?

income groups, and which is rendered possible and facilitated by entirely separate and therefore
easily recognizable services.'' Another de nition, that of M. Andre Poplimont, is as follows: ''Social
tourism is a type of tourism practiced by those who would not be able to meet the cost without
social intervention, that is, without the assistance of an association to which the individual
belongs. ''

From these de nitions and from the reports of the three International Congresses on Social
Tourism, it is clear that certain elements may be described. First is the idea of Second,

social tourism is subsidized by the states, local authorities, employers, trade unions, clubs, or other
associations to which the worker belongs. Third, it involves travel outside the normal place of
residence, preferably to a different environment that is usually within the tourist

'' limited means. ''

' s own country or

sometimes to a country nearby.

Holidays with Pay

Paid holidays are now established all over the world, and in most countries a minimum duration (one,
two, or three weeks) is speci ed either by law or by collective agreement. Some, however, consider this
institution only a first stage, and they believe that attention should now be turned to the way in which
these holidays are used. Great subjects of discussion by twenty- rst-century sociologists are: (1) the
use of the increased leisure time now available to workers, and (2) the cultural and educational
development that such leisure time makes possible.
Large numbers of workers are obliged to spend their holidays at home, partly because of their lack
of means or tourist experience and partly because of lack of information, transport dif culties, or
shortage of suitable accommodation. Organized social tourism, if ef ciently managed, can overcome
most of these problems: finance through subsidies and savings schemes, experience and information
through contacts elsewhere in the country concerned or abroad, transportation through package deals
with carriers, and accommodation through contracts with resorts. Thus, organizations can bring