What Is 'Dark Tourism'? Kerala Police Warns Against This Sinister Trend Amid Wayanad Landslides

The death toll in the devastating landslides in Wayanad is likely to cross 300 with scores still missing. Amid this, Kerala Police has urged people to avoid 'dark tourism' in the natural calamity-hit region.

As per Kerala authorities, such activities will hinder the crucial rescue ops and can delay the entire exercise.

What is 'dark tourism'?

Dark tourism is the practice of visiting sites associated with death, suffering, tragedy, or violence.

These locations can range from cemeteries and disaster zones to battlefields, memorials, and infamous historical sites.

The concept has gained plenty of attention in recent years, partly due to popular TV shows like 'Chernobyl' and 'The Dark Tourist'.

Some of the most well-known dark tourism destinations include the Chernobyl exclusion zone in Ukraine, the Killing Fields in Cambodia, the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland, and the 9/11 Memorial in the United States.

Other sites might involve haunted houses, locations of paranormal activity, or places tied to notorious historical events.

Definitions of dark tourism

One of the earliest definitions of dark tourism was provided by John Lennon and Malcolm Foley, who described it as "the representation of inhuman acts, and how these are interpreted for visitors."

Kevin Fox Gotham later expanded on this, defining dark tourism as "the circulation of people to places characterised by distress, atrocity or sadness and pain."

Gotham also introduced the concept of "disaster tourism," where tourism increases in response to a major disaster or traumatic event, reported NDTV.

Why is Dark Tourism Popular

For many, the appeal of dark tourism lies in the emotional connection they can make with a place of tragedy.

Visitors often seek to immerse themselves in the history and culture of a location, aiming to connect with the emotions of those who experienced the tragedy firsthand.

By visiting these sites, people can engage with the past, pay their respects, and reflect on the significance of historical events.