>Comments: Authenticated sender is <[log in to unmask]>
>From: [log in to unmask]
>Organization: University of Salford
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Date: Thu, 15 Jul 1999 12:08:24 +0100
>Subject: Re: tourism + war
>Priority: normal
>MIME-Version: 1.0
>
>The dark side of tourism is certainly one that is becoming the focus of
>many tourism
>researchers. I am not sure of the potential educational merits of
>encouraging visits to
>sites of war/crime/etc. but there does seem to exist tourist appeal
>in macabre events such as the Fred West murders and the interest generated
>in the
>Cromwell St. area and it has been reported that official tours are on
>offer in Paris to tour the scene of Princess Diana's death.
>
>When I have spoken with my students about their opinions of such events
>they have
>reacted negatively, believing that it is unethical for the tourist
>industry to facilitate interest
>in such events. However, curiosity (albeit sometimes defined as
>'inappropriate') is a
>part of human nature that is difficult to curb. I find it rather
>intriguing that services such as
> the Jack the Ripper tours in London are often considered acceptable yet
>if one were to
>offer similar tours of the scenes of more recent crimes there would be a
>public outcry.
>There seems to be an historical context to levels of acceptability (which
>is understandable
>in that inevitably the more recent the event the more that members of the
>public feel able
>to remember and relate to it and friends/relatives etc. are still living
>and grieving). This
>raises an interesting issue - how long before tourist interest in a 'dark'
>event
>becomes acceptable (if it ever becomes so)?
>
>I would suspect that as we enter the 21st century and there exist fewer
>generations to
>whom the Second World War holds less personal meaning and direct rememberance
>it will be more likely that visits to holocaust sites etc. will be
>perceived to hold educational
>benefits. As Neil remarks, I am unsure of the extent to which 'dark
>tourism' may be
>'sensitively'/'appropriately' managed but I do suspect that if the industry
>perceives a demand to exist there will always be companies ready to supply.
>
>
>> In the light of recent adverts for researchers interested in tourism and
>> war, and the recent conflict in Kosovo I was just wondering about the
>> divide between tourist attraction and the horrors of war. This leads to all
>> sorts of leading and often disturbing questions. For one, have the
>> concentration camps of the second world war become tourist attractions for
>> some people, and what are the implications of this. If they have, then how
>> long may it be before the recent horrors of the Balkans are being
>> advertised as attractions, or at least sites that may be of interest to
>> tourists. If it were done correctly it would surely be a good thing, in
>> terms of education. However, it could also lead to a cheapening of the
>> whole thing.
>>
>> Answers, ideas, or anything of the sort, please send to the list (the aim
>> being to try and generate discussion on an important issue, not to offend
>> or cause distress).
>>
>> Cheers
>>
>> Neil
>>
>> Dr Neil Carr
>> Dept. of Business and Finance
>> University of Hertfordshire
>> Mangrove Road
>> Hertford
>> Hertfordshire
>> England
>> SG13 8QF
>> Tel. (01707) 285511
>> Fax. (01707) 285455
>> email: [log in to unmask]
>>
>>
>>
>>
>Nicola Foster
>Projects Officer - Research & Curriculum Development
>Department of Leisure & Hospitality Studies
>University of Salford
>Allerton Building
>Frederick Road
>Salford
>M6 6PU
>
>0161 295 2078
Dr Neil Carr
Dept. of Business and Finance
University of Hertfordshire
Mangrove Road
Hertford
Hertfordshire
England
SG13 8QF
Tel. (01707) 285511
Fax. (01707) 285455
email: [log in to unmask]
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