Dark tourism sites: visualization, evidence and visitation

Abstract

Purpose This paper aims to consider dark tourism sites and their pivotal role as evidence of atrocity and evil. How they are interpreted and the role of visual imagery, most particularly photography, are considered from the perspective of the locations as heritage and learning sites. The complex arguments in relation to conservation and maintenance are juxtaposed with the behaviour of visitors in recording and uploading imagery of such material. This phenomenon allows us to consider the enormity of witnessing such events and viewing such sites as part of contemporary tourist behaviour. Design/methodology/approach The approach utilizes contemporary literature from tourism, sociology and film studies and uses secondary sources to highlight key sites that illustrate discursive elements of the paper. Findings This appeal and appetite for photographic and filmic record by visitors to such dark sites illustrates not only an inherent fascination but also a series of dark and recurring themes. However, it is also notable that in some locations, ideological selectivity in development is present and evidence, record and history are challenged. The cases of Cambodia and Russia and elements of their tragic pasts are used to illustrate why key heritage sites are developed as attractions or are ignored as evidential sites. For these reasons, this area still merits evaluation and discussion in tourism. Originality/value The area of dark tourism has been the focus of researchers for over a decade. However, the areas of selectivity in development, ideological impact on content and the issues related to visualization have not as yet been fully explored. This paper begins to explore issues related to visualization and evidence and how it related to these dark tourism sites.

Chernobyl dreams: investigating visitors’ storytelling in the Chernobyl exclusion zone

“…Alongside the development of initial definitions and typologies, there has been a growing interest and effort to identify sub-forms of dark tourism and, therefore, a myriad of different conceptualizations have emerged over the past decades, such as dystopian dark tourism (Farkić, 2020; Podoshen et al , 2015), disaster tourism (Robbie, 2008; Yankovska & Hannam, 2013) and nuclear tourism (Gusterson, 2004; Hryhorczuk, 2019). A consensus has not been reached regarding the definition of the phenomenon nor its relation to heritage studies generally (Lennon, 2017; Light, 2017). Lennon and Powell (2018) conceptualise the term as inclusive, which incorporates the extensive and identifiable phenomena of visitation to sites associated with the shared darker past of humanity.…”