Naomi...
I shall be interested in your approach which you have used to contact a
commercial operator such as Merlin Entertainments... in a previous life
I worked as a manager for Vardon plc which owned the Dungeons (in
addition to a variety of other leisure and tourism companies) before
Merlin took over, and received a variety of requests from students such
as yourself (both undergrad and postgard) asking for information.... on
a variety of business and commercial issues....
The secret is to be focused and specific in your request, aim to make a
personal contact through networking, and avoid asking for information
which may be perceived as commercially sensitive or information which is
already within the public domain. Of course the added dimension here is
whether Merlin considers itself a 'dark tourism' supplier, with the
morbidity or morality subtext it may incorporate (media inspired or
otherwise).... or whether it perceives itself as a mainstream visitor
attraction simply with a USP in the form of the macabre and good old
fashioned 'fear'.... and whereby the attraction provides a socially
acceptable environment in which to gaze upon death, tragedy and the
seemingly macabre....
The label of 'dark tourism' is an academically applied one...
A thought....
Regards
PHIL
PS Glad you like the website... to be updated very soon....
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Philip Stone
Senior Lecturer / Course Leader
(Editor - The Dark Tourism Forum)
'Death, Disaster and the Macabre - Discover more about the 'darker side
of tourism' by visiting The Dark Tourism Forum at
www.dark-tourism.org.uk
Recent Publication(s)
Stone, P.R (2005) "Consuming Dark Tourism - a call for research"
eReview of Tourism Research, Vol 3(5), p.109-117. Available Full Text:
http://ertr.tamu.edu/appliedresearch.cfm?articleid=90
Stone, P.R (2005) "Dark Tourism - an old concept in a new world"
Tourism, The Tourism Society, Quarter IV, Issue 125, p.20
University of Central Lancashire (UCLan)
Lancashire Business School
Department of Tourism & Leisure Management
PRESTON
PR1 2HE
UK
Room: Greenbank 130
Tel: (+44) 01772 894 769
Fax: (+44) 01772 892 927
Email: [log in to unmask]
Profile: www.philipstone.me.uk
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>>> [log in to unmask] 30/11/2005 10:50:50 >>>
Hi to everyone at the Dark Forum!
I've recently joined this forum, as I have since become fascinated with
the
topic area. In particuarly, what drives tourists to places of
attrocities
and why do they feel the need to visit such places, even if these
attrocities don't directly effect them.
I'm studying Travel and Tourism Management at Northumbria University,
and
am researching for my dissertation which focuses on Dark Tourism.
I wanted to investigate differences between certain 'dark' attractions,
and
have been trying to research the London Dungeons (owned by Merlins
Entertainment). I want to investigate as to whether or not it can be
classified as a genuine dark tourism attraction or whether it is in
fact
just a 'theme park' attraction.
I've tried to find information regarding The London Dungeons, and have
since sent serveral correspondances to Merlins Entertainment for
information regarding the marketing and promotion behind the Dungeons -
but
have been unsuccessful in receiving any information back from them.
If anybody knows of any information regarding the Dungeons or advice on
how
to obtain this research I'd be most grateful.
I've found this forum and the dark tourism website incredibly helpful
and
informative!
Naomi
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