Dark Tourism: Motivations, Host Communities, and Economic Development

This report delves into the realm of dark tourism, exploring the motivations behind visiting sites associated with historical tragedies and events. It examines the theoretical underpinnings of dark tourism, analyzing supporting literature to better understand the factors driving demand. The report also investigates the role of host communities in dark tourism, considering how such tourism can be employed as a tool to support financial, economic, and socio-cultural developments within a region. Furthermore, it discusses the characteristics of host communities, the economic benefits, and the impacts on the local economy. The report provides examples of dark tourism sites in the UK, such as The Tower of London and Bart’s Pathology Museum, and discusses various factors influencing tourist demand, including interest, tour operators, and advertising. The study also highlights the role of community involvement and the financial benefits derived from tourism, concluding with the importance of economic advantages and employment opportunities in the tourism sector. This assignment provides a comprehensive analysis of dark tourism's motivations, community impacts, and economic benefits.

Dark tourism

Table of Contents
Table of Contents.............................................................................................................................2
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................1
Question 1 With reference to the associated theory that underpins dark tourism, critically
appraise the supporting literature and how it can be used to better explain dark tourism
motivations and demand..............................................................................................................1
Question 2. Host communities, how might dark tourism be employed as a support tool, in
aiding financial / economic and socio-cultural developments within the region........................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCE..................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Dark tourism is defined as visiting places where some darkest event of human history have
unfolded. That can comprise assassination, genocide, incarceration, ethnic cleansing, war or
disaster which in the form of natural and accidental (Kunwar, Aryal and Karki, 2019). In other
words, dark tourism is refers as some accidental, historical and horrible places where something
was happened in the past. As some people are interested to know the such places and their stories
that increases knowledge and understanding of themselves. In UK there are many dark tourism
places such as The Tower of London, Jack the Ripper Tours, Bart’s Pathology Museum,
Highgate Cemetery, Cross Bones graveyard etc. This report is based on dark tourism states their
past stories and famous places which are seen by people that is called visiting dark tourism
places. This report is categorised in two parts. The first part covers introduction to dark tourism,
its chronology, factors that created demand and motivates people. The second part of report
covers host community and its characteristics, how dark tourism can be employed at a
destination to financial and economic benefits.
MAIN BODY
Question 1 With reference to the associated theory that underpins dark tourism, critically
appraise the supporting literature and how it can be used to better explain dark tourism
motivations and demand.
Dark Tourism is a concept which often has a negative meaning surrounding it. People don't
like to go to places that make them nervous, or remind them of all the terrible things that have
happened all over history. Others don't want to be reminded their mortality, particularly when
they are on holiday. These are called as dark places which involves historical places and in
countries and nation that attracts people and encourages them to visit such places. This is
important aspects that involves morbid tourism, grief tourism and black tourism which is related
to historically death and tragedy (Khader, 2019). In other words, currently dark tourism has grow
to become more buzz world where it was used limited to academic journals, news, research
paper that increases interest to see places. Many people are interested to visit such tourism places
that helps to increase the knowledge and understanding about past incidents. People are
searching stories of such dark places and shared with others that increasers understanding about
such places and maintain the history (Soni and Anand, 2020).
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Dark Tourism refers as dark places where number of accidents, tragedy, murders and other
incidents has arose that attracts people to gather information and vising the places. The top dark
tourism chronology are involves dark fun factories that are consider as entertainment focused
sites that states fictional death and macabre events with commercial ethics. It brings Dracula
park in Romania is illustrated. Dark exhibitions is another chronology that offers products related
to death, usually with commemorative, reflective messages and educations. These are located
away from actual place of death that increases insights of people. These all are the part of dark
tourism that increases attraction of people and deliver them services. A very much-observed
cultural shift in contemporary tourism is one that shows visitors moving ever more towards niche
or specialized holidays. The days of the 3's large scale tourism package holidays (sea, sun, sand)
are not over yet, however there are increasing numbers of good options open for both more
ambitious tourists as well as those looking for a more homogeneous and especially post-
packaged experience (Nhlabathi and Maharaj, 2019). Dark tourism is related to different models
such as environmental attitude, dark tourism motivation and benefits of experience that helps to
increase the knowledge and understanding about accidental place. The nature and scope of
Chronology model is relation to dark tourism is having wider scope and nature that helps to
increase the understanding how people can increase their knowledge and attracted to visit such
places. The example is world war where number of people has died due to war that become a
dart tourism point because people wanted to go and see such place and they are interested to get
information. Some people are highly excited to know about such tourism spot that create a
history for them (Kafa, 2019).
In London, UK there are different dark tourism such as The Tower of London that is one the
largest and most impressive building that covers its history. It is the prison for like of guy Anne
Boleyn, Fawkes and Richard ill fated nephew. It also involves host of exotic animals by
involving lions, monkeys, elephant and tigers (Zaccaria and Romano Romero, 2019). The
another dark tourism is Bart’s Pathology Museum which is filled of bodies, skeletons and body
parts. It has just one member staff Carla valentine who has breathed in to series of death salon
UK. The next one is Highgate cemetery that is final resting place of such notable as Karl Marx.
Moreover, the another example is Bhangarh this is horrible place in India and have a long story
which attracts people to go and see such place. It has defined from the above discussion in
current environment there are different factors such as interest, tourist experience, internet, tour
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operator, supplying of services proper. The first factor is interest of people that states how many
people are interested to visit such places and getting information in relation to dark places that
increases their knowledge and insights regarding particular place (Mitchell and Gallaway, 2019).
If people are interested to get the information and showing their interest regarding such places
which are having in different countries then they are demanding to visiting such places. In this,
travel and tourism agency is playing vital role that introduce holiday packages and spending their
holidays which helped to perform well in context to organisation. This is influencing factors
where organisation provide information to people about some dark places and it create a demand
of visiting the sites in relation to visit such places (Oren, Shani and Poria, 2019). Tour operator is
another influencing factor that is creating demand of people to visit the sites and show their
interest. It is important for organisation to organise and recognise all information regarding
particular thing and place that helps to maintain the information. If tour operator provide all
reliable information and data to customers then they decide to visit sites and motivates people by
showing sites (Faktorovich, 2019). The another factor is advertisement attracts people to show
their interest and decide to book. Tourism audiences are recommended to be segmented is
attractive factor that is taking into account which not all visitors visiting a dark place are inspired
by an attraction in death and not all visitors have the same experience. Tour operator are
updating information on their websites in relation to tourism. Tour operator understand the needs
and wants of their customers and provide them information which has impacted good and
maintain the good performance (Kassouha, 2019). The studies prove that there are multiple
reasons to visit dark sites; given the fact that interest in death does not serve as a primary reason
for tourism, visitors does actually be having a dark encounter. Analogously, dark tourism
resources can be motivated by reasons except the curiosity in death. Promotional channel such as
you tube, social media, print media, online marketing and other that create interest of people to
know about them. Therefore, dark tourism refer as place and highlighting point that attracts
people to visit such destination and get the information about it. There are some factors which
has created a demand of visiting sites and show interest to enjoy it (Christou, 2020).
Question 2. Host communities, how might dark tourism be employed as a support tool, in aiding
financial / economic and socio-cultural developments within the region
Host community refers as a group of people who shares a common identity like as
geographical, location, ethical background etc. This is a society that attracts people to visit the
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tourism places where something happened in past years and become a historical places. This
community provides support services for tourism and they have involvement in management.
When group of people are working to host the event that is tool which helps to gather
information and it provides employment to people which helps to maintain the good
effectiveness. The characteristics of host community are as accommodation services that
increases demand for customers to get accommodation such as food and beverages outlets. This
helps to generate a revenues to local retail business and community so economical condition of a
nation can be improved. It is providing a source of fund for protection and maintenance of
natural attraction (Molaro, 2019). Host community is maintaining the customer relationship by
providing all information and attracting people. the example of host community is UK and
Europe where number of people are organised community to provide the insights and support in
order to attracts people and encourages them to visit such places. In UK there are different places
in relation to dark tourism such as accidental, horrible, historical place etc. then other countries
tie up with UK in relation to tour operator that provide information to people regarding cost,
packages and all information for attracting them and get ready to visit. It has discussed that dark
tourism is employed many people at a destination which helps to provide the financial and
economic benefits (Spencer, 2020). In context to economic, GDP rates, population, interest of
people etc. that are related to economic which helps to increase the interest of people to visit
such places. This improve economical condition of a nation by paying taxes in case of entering
in to a nation and across the border that helps to maintaining such places. Such charges amount
also uses in people welfare such as education, hospital etc. For example, the economy of UK is
developed where skilled and talented people are living and performing their jibs in tourism sector
by assisting passengers and telling them past stories. Due to having developed country
government support such business to increase the number of passengers and also improve the
economic condition of a nation. This has impacted positive on business and economy by
providing employment to people. There is many chances to create employment in tourism sector
and deliver the information accordingly. For a number of factors, the sector is celebrating the
economic advantages of tourism (Belias and et. al., 2019). Tourism businesses depend heavily on
one another, as well as local neighbourhood enterprises, government and people. Allegations
about the economic relevance of tourism allow greater appreciation to the industry between
corporate sector, government officials and the general public. This also turns into tourism-
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favourable decisions or public policy. Community involvement for tourism is significant, since it
affects the economy of a nation. If there is good condition of a economy then it can perform well
by increase the spending power of people and providing them employment changes that bring
changes in economical condition of a nation. On the other hand, Financial benefits can be get
by individual and community by running a business of tour arrangement, operator, providing
assisting etc (Törnberg, 2019). In UK, and other countries there are many travel and tourism
industries which are providing guidance and proper security to save from danger zone that ensure
customer that they are safe and can gather data regarding what happened in past here. While
providing assistance and guidance to people which helps to maintain the financial benefits. They
are creating benefits in term of getting money and arranging funds for running such community.
Planners are also using the insights gathered from the socio-cultural workshop to direct
judgment-making in subjects such as landscape improvement, and the host group to evaluate
activities they would like to pursue or even run themselves. This is important for companies and
economies that involvement of host communities is required planning process from the
beginning level that helps to manage and arrange the activities effectively. This also helps to
reduce the future arises conflicts and misinformation. Moreover, in context to social culture
factor, dark tourism has employed to people who are from different side that helps to fill ,their
needs and give changes to earn money. In this, a person who have whole information and
knowledge about destination that only can attracts the people and encourage them to increase
their organisational performance (Vidal-Casellas, Aulet and Crous-Costa, eds., 2019). For
example Tower of London is situated in London that is dark tourism destination is attracting
people what is special in this tower who have impressive building and attracting visitors to visit
at least once. This is increasing interest of people to see and helps to provide the employment to
people. As visitors who comes at tourism places pays taxes and booking tour operators that can
help to increase their spending power and maintain the good performance. People select places
and destination by choosing best one places via internet and other methods. In economic factor it
benefits such as Drive up prices for housing and food and entertainment outlets, while boosting
profitability for new and existing hotels, motels, hostels, farm stays, etc. Increase local retail
demand, while retaining conventional customs and activities. Provide extra income for local
shopping and other facilities (e.g. emergency care, banking, car rental, small industry, food stalls,
visitor attractions). It is creating a greater sense of the importance of native culture and the
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natural world. Moreover, dark tourism providing funding mechanism for the conservation and
restoration of natural resources and cultural heritage icons.
CONCLUSION
From the report it can be concluded that tourism is related term that states visiting on people
from one place another. This helps to create the interest of people by providing them all service
and information that attracts them and increase the performance. Dark tourism is related to
different places such as accidental, horrible and historical places where people are interested to
get information and increases their insights. In different countries there as many dark tourism
places which have created a demand of visiting sites and other information then select a good
place. Host community is consider as group of people who host something for society who are
living in a society and influencing people. in competitive environment there are many factors in
relation to dark tourism that benefits in social, finance and economic ways.
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REFERENCE
Books and journal
Kunwar, R. R., Aryal, D. R. and Karki, N., 2019. Dark Tourism: A Preliminary Study of Barpak
and Langtang as Seismic Memorial Sites of Nepal. Journal of Tourism and Hospitality
Education. 9. pp.88-136.
Khader, J., 2019. 10 Dystopian dark tourism, fan subculture and the Ongoing Nakba in Banksy’s
Walled Off heterotopia. Rami K. Isaac, Erdinç Çakmak, Richard Butler: Tourism and
Hospitality in Conflict-Ridden Destinations, Routledge. https://www. researchgate.
net/publication/333044704.
Soni, G. and Anand, P., 2020. Thana Tourism: An Exploration of the Dark Aspect of Leisure and
Eerie Travel in India. Journal of Production Research & Management. 7(1). pp.1-10.
Nhlabathi, S. S. and Maharaj, B., 2019. The dark tourism discipline: a creative brand in a
competitive academic environment?. Current Issues in Tourism, pp.1-12.
Kafa, N., 2019. 17 Dark Tourism in Terms of Local People, Emotions and Experiences: A Case
of Gallipoli. Sustainable Destination Branding and Marketing, p.190.
Zaccaria, A. and Romano Romero, P., 2019. Dark Tourism Attractiveness Scan Model: Towards
a More Effective Development of a Destination.
Mitchell, D. and Gallaway, T., 2019. Dark sky tourism: economic impacts on the Colorado
Plateau Economy, USA. Tourism Review.
Oren, G., Shani, A. and Poria, Y., 2019. Mortality salience–shedding light on the dark
experience. Journal of Heritage Tourism. 14(5-6). pp.574-578.
Faktorovich, A., 2019. Straightforward Essays on Literary Tourism in the British
Isles. Pennsylvania Literary Journal. 11(2). pp.121-269.
Kassouha, Z. A., 2019. Post-conflict tourist landscapes: between the heritage of conflict and the
hybridization of tourism activity. Observations from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Via.
Tourism Review, (15).
Christou, P. A., 2020. Tourism experiences as the remedy to nostalgia: conceptualizing the
nostalgia and tourism nexus. Current Issues in Tourism. 23(5). pp.612-625.
Molaro, C., 2019. Dark Tourism al Cimitero Monumentale di Torino: progetto per un centro
d'interpretazione museale= Dark Tourism at the Monumental Cemetery of Turin: project
for a museum interpretation center (Doctoral dissertation, Politecnico di Torino).
Spencer, A., 2020. Interpretation and Memorialization at the Sand Creek Massacre National
Historic Site. In Dark Tourism in the American West (pp. 13-39). Palgrave Macmillan,
Cham.
Belias, D., and et. al., 2019. Ethical Tourism: The Theory Vs. The Hedonistic Reality in Popular
Greek Tourism Resorts. In Yellow Tourism (pp. 71-81). Springer, Cham.
Törnberg, P., 2019. Dark Disneyfication: Staging Authenticity on Airbnb.
Hanisch, E., Tourism in North Korea: A Reinforcement of the Government’s Ideology or a
Chance for Promoting Peace Between Hostile Nations?. BETWEEN ARTS AND
SCIENCE, p.67.
Vidal-Casellas, D., Aulet, S. and Crous-Costa, N. eds., 2019. Tourism, Pilgrimage and
Intercultural Dialogue: Interpreting Sacred Stories. CABI.
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(Kunwar, Aryal and Karki, 2019) (Khader, 2019) (Soni and Anand, 2020) (Nhlabathi and
Maharaj, 2019) (Kafa, 2019) (Zaccaria and Romano Romero, 2019) (Mitchell and Gallaway,
2019) (Oren, Shani and Poria, 2019) (Faktorovich, 2019) (Kassouha, 2019) (Christou, 2020)
(Molaro, 2019) (Spencer, 2020) (Belias and et. al., 2019) (Törnberg, 2019) (Vidal-Casellas,
Aulet and Crous-Costa, eds., 2019)
About Host community that employed in social culture factor. 2020. Available through:
<https://tourismnotes.com/host-community/>
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