Investigation of the Motivations and Experiences of Tourists Visiting the Gallipoli Peninsula as a Dark Tourism Destination

Abstract

The present study strives to understand the travel motivations and experiences of both domestic and international travellers visiting the Gallipoli Peninsula. Qualitative research methodology was utilized for this study, with a case study approach employed for the qualitative research design. Data were gathered using face-to-face interviews (n=44), participant observation and document analysis, and an inductive content analysis was then used to analyse the data. The research findings revealed that travellers visiting the site have different motivations and experiences, as well as some commonalities. The findings also indicate that those visiting the site have different travel motivations and experiences, as well as commonalities. Their travel motivations form a heterogeneous pattern, including push and pull motivational factors, while experiences can be grouped into psychological and sociocultural categories; these are useful contributions to the existing literature in the field. As a consequence, the results of this study are unique as they show that battlefield sites within the scope of the dark tourism phenomenon may offer visitors memorable tourism experiences and socio-cultural experiences.

Applying mixed methods to explore lighter and darker shades in hybrid dark tourism experiences

“…Despite richness of the dark tourism literature, previous research relies on either qualitative (Çakar, 2020; Light and Ivanova, 2021; Podoshen et al , 2018) or quantitative data (Kang et al , 2018; Sharma and Nayak, 2019). The current study makes methodological contributions to the dark tourism literature by using mixed methods with exploratory sequential design.…”

“…As such, thanatourism and tragedy-related tourism are interchangeably used to refer to dark tourism (Light, 2017). Some studies explore various motivations for dark tourism (Çakar, 2020; Ivanova and Light, 2018; Qian et al , 2021). Such motivations include reinforcing learning, building political or national identity and seeking novelty and remembrance (Kim and Thapa, 2018; Yan et al , 2016).…”

“…Dark tourism is an example of niche tourism, and it is defined as visiting sites where natural and human-made disasters, such as earthquake, genocide or war, happened in the past and resulted in casualties and atrocities (Sharma and Nayak, 2019). The term "dark tourism" also reflects the negative emotions of visitors (C ¸akar, 2020;Light, 2017). For instance, when visiting the National September 11 Memorial and Museum, some visitors feel angry for human cruelty, fearful for any similar incident to happen in the future and sad for their loved ones who died from 911 (Sun and Lv, 2021).…”

The influence of dark tourism motivational factors on revisit intention: a moderated mediation approach

“…In addition to that, research has shown that involvement plays a moderating role in the connection between tourist motivation and TRI (San Martin, Collado, & Rodriguez del Bosque, 2013). Furthermore, scholars examined TI to visit the DTD of historical significance, influence of media, CS of thrill and morbid experience generates the TRI (Niemela, 2010;Blom, 2000;Cakar, 2020). Therefore, we hypothesise the following:…”

“…As already discussed in the literature review, the influence of DTMF may lead to TRI in DTD, this section will discuss the dimensions thereof. The literature tends to define understanding history (UH), MSM and CS as dimensions of DTMF (Cakar, 2020;Zheng et al, 2018;Lewis, Schrier, & Xu, 2021). The first dimension of the DTMF is UH.…”