Colleagues...
For those interested, a new peer reviewed conceptual paper on dark
tourism has recently been published in a special journal edition on
spirituality and meaningful experiences in tourism. The paper is
available via the journal's site at http://www.iztzg.hr/turizam/last.htm
. Additionally, a link to the paper will soon be available via The Dark
Tourism Forum's site at www.dark-tourism.org.uk
Is anyone wishes to receive an off-print copy of the paper, then please
reply off-list to [log in to unmask] , and I'll be happy to send one
through to you.
_____________________________
Ref:
Stone, P.R (2006) "A dark tourism spectrum: Towards a typology of death
and macabre related tourist sites, attractions and exhibitions" Tourism:
An Interdisciplinary International Journal, Vol 52(2), p:145-160.
Abstract:
Deaths, disasters and atrocities in touristic form are becoming an
increasingly pervasive feature within the contemporary tourism
landscape, and as such, are ever more providing potential spiritual
journeys for the tourist who wishes to gaze upon real and recreated
death. As a result, the rather emotive label of 'dark tourism' has
entered academic discourse and media parlance, and consequently has
generated a significant amount of research interest. However, despite
this increasing attention the dark tourism literature remains both
eclectic and theoretically fragile. That is, a number of fundamental
issues remain, not least whether it is actually possible or justifiable
to collectively categorise a diverse range of sites, attractions and
exhibitions that are associated with death and the macabre as 'dark
tourism', or whether identifiable degrees or 'shades' of darkness
can be attributed to a particular type of dark tourism supplier. This
paper argues that certain suppliers may indeed, conceptually at least,
share particular product features, perceptions and characteristics,
which can then be loosely translated into various 'shades of
darkness'. As a result, dark tourism products may lie along a
rather 'fluid and dynamic spectrum of intensity', whereby particular
sites may be conceivably 'darker' than others, dependant upon
various defining characteristics, perceptions and product traits. It is
proposed that construction of a firm and comprehensive typological
foundation will lead not only to a better understanding of dark tourism
supply, but also, and perhaps more importantly, lead to a better
understanding of where to locate and explore consumer demand,
motivations and experiences.
_______________________________
Kind Regards
PHIL
PS - An Additional Special Note:
The Dark Tourism Forum website, since its conception in September 2005,
has had thousands of hits from all over the world, and is continuing to
grow in traffic. The site will undergo a major update during the summer.
Thus, if anyone on this list wishes to showcase their own dark tourism
or related research and link it via The Dark Tourism Forum website, thus
creating exposure to a much wider academic and non-academic community,
then I'll be delighted to consider your requests. Again, please reply
off-list if you wish to discuss....
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Philip R. Stone
Senior Lecturer
Course Leader (Tourism Undergraduate Programmes)
Editor - The Dark Tourism Forum
Dark Tourism: The act of travel to sites of death, disaster and the
macabre - Learn 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 (2006) "A dark tourism spectrum: Towards a typology of death
and macabre related tourist sites, attractions and exhibitions" Tourism:
An Interdisciplinary International Journal, Vol 52(2), p:145-160.
Available via www.dark-tourism.org.uk or go to
http://www.iztzg.hr/turizam/last.htm
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
University of Central Lancashire (UCLan)
Lancashire Business School
Department of Tourism & Leisure Management
PRESTON
PR1 2HE
United Kingdom
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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