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




%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%