This study explores the management of visitor sites and attractions associated with death, disaster and suffering, commonly referred to in the literature as ‘dark tourism’. Although gaining increasing academic attention, the supply-side perspective of dark tourism is poorly understood with scarce empirical evidence relating to management operations and practices. This may be due to management operations and practices that are perceived to conflict with the sensitive themes of visitor sites associated with dark tourism. Particular consideration is given to the management concept of innovation identified as a significant gap for scholarly exploration. Qualitative semi-structured interviews were carried out with senior management at 23 sites and attractions across the United Kingdom associated with dark tourism. The findings reveal that, contrary to suggestions that dark tourism sites may be restrictive in management practices, a wide array of innovative activities and marketing practices are widely conducted and innovation was viewed as a stimuli for repeat visitation. Furthermore, management operations are viewed as facilitating important stories of trauma for present and future generations. Omission of these stories would belittle the tragic circumstances in which people associated with the sites had died or suffered. Moreover, managers at dark tourism sites acknowledged the ethical and moral tensions surrounding management practices at dark tourism sites. Indeed, the majority of managers adopted both highly ethical processes resulting in ethical innovations and complex consultation processes in order to mitigate any potential concerns from stakeholders. The ethical stance underpinning operations positions the phenomenon of dark tourism as a subset within the tourism sector, distinct from its counterparts. Recommendations include calls to widen the study to explore visitor perceptions of innovative measures undertaken by managers, and to focus on specific commercial aspects, such as retailing, within the business of dark tourism.

Dark Tourism is a relatively new concept, but as a phenomenon it has existed for centuries in the form of pilgrimages and gladiator games. The term includes visits to places associated with death and disaster, and has in more recent years become a highlighted tourist niche. This paper addresses the phenomenon of Dark Tourism and the reasons behind a visit to such an attraction. To find out the motive behind people's visits, interviews were conducted with respondents who have previously visited one or more Dark Tourism sites. A total of 32 people were interviewed about what influenced them to go to such a macabre place. Observations were also performed on five Dark Tourism attractions, in order to provide a greater understanding for their attractiveness and appeal.In our research we found that, often, a multiple reasons lay behind the choice to visit a Dark Tourism site. Two of the main reasons stated by the respondents for their visits, were history and education, with the motivation that the abovementioned referees wanted to experience and learn about the past simultaneously. We also found that curiosity for attractions characterized as “different”, was a strong motivation for many of our interviewed. / Dark Tourism är ett relativt nytt begrepp men fenomenet har existerat i århundraden exempelvis i form av pilgrimsfärder och gladiatorspel. Begreppet innefattar besök till platser som kopplas till död och katastrofer, vilket har blivit en turistnich som uppmärksammats mer under de senaste åren. Denna uppsats tar upp fenomenet Dark Tourism och vilka motiven är till att besöka en sådan attraktion. För att få reda på motivet bakom människors vistelser har intervjuer utförts med respondenter som besökt Dark Tourism områden. Sammanlagt intervjuades 32 personer kring vad som påverkat dem att åka till en sådan makaber plats. Observationer har även utförts på fem Dark Tourism attraktioner för att ge en större förståelse kring deras dragningskrafter.    I arbetet fann vi att det ofta fanns flera motiv till ett besök på en Dark Tourism plats. Historia och utbildning var ett av de främsta skälen till besöken då de ville uppleva och få kunskap om det förgångna. Vidare framkom det att nyfikenhet av att besöka en annorlunda attraktion för många utgjorde ett starkt motiv till deras besök.

The aim of this study is to obtain a better understanding of what factors affect the motivation for visiting Dark Tourism sites and the way that these sites are regarded. By providing such an insight this study contributes to a greater understanding of Dark Tourism.  In order to find answers to our questions, we interviewed several representatives at different sites and also carried out observations at three Dark Tourism attractions to reach a better understanding of the visors’ motivations for visiting this kind of tourist attractions. In our study we have concluded that people have become increasingly interested in visiting such Dark Tourism sites even though these may seem scary or uncomfortable. Our research has helped us to find answers to the questions that we asked and we have concluded that people have become more curious and want to know more about terrible events and why they took place.

Thesis (MTech(Tourism and Hospitality Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2011 / Rwanda is a low income, landlocked and heavily populated country in Sub-Sahara Africa. Regardless of its majestic landscape, rich history and culture, it is not a country that is recognized as a tourism destination. Instead, Rwanda has become known for the genocide that took place in 1994 when over one million people were killed in within a hundred day period while the rest of the world watched in silence. Since then, Rwanda has been trying to uplift its image and economy. However, unlike other African countries, Rwanda does not have mineral resources and has to focus on improving its tourism to attract more people and thereby more funds into the country. Developing tourism can play a major role in reducing the poverty level, creating employment as well as contributing to the country’s revenue. So far Rwanda has strongly relied on its famous mountain gorillas to attract tourists which can be an expensive exercise for tourists in Rwanda. By creating a more diversified number of attractions, the number of tourists to the country should increase thereby injecting much needed capital into the economy. After the 1994 genocide, Rwanda inherited several genocide sites that have been preserved by government to remind people of the massacre that took place. Even though these sites are not used for tourism gain, they are acquiring popularity as tourists to Rwanda become aware of them and the history applicable thereto. This study has been undertaken to find ways to conserve, protect and market the genocide memorial sites as tourism destinations. It is important that these heritage museums be acknowledged through the World Heritage Organisation as authentic and educational facilities for future generations to enjoy. The research project was conducted in the Kigali and Bugesera areas. A sample of three hundred and sixty (360) questionnaires was given out to participants, and a total of a hundred and fifty-seven (157) were returned, coded and analysed. Data analysis applying descriptive statistics was utilised to acquire the frequencies, which were conveyed in percentages. The study disclosed that generally tourists were impressed by the genocide memorial sites and felt that it would be of great use to protect and market them as tourism assets as they believe that many people will learn from the harsh historical event that took place in Rwanda. This investigative study could strongly benefit Rwanda in planning and deciding on an appropriate tourism marketing strategy for the genocide memorial site. The Rwandan Government, policy makers and tourism stakeholders have a lot to gain by addressing the issues that are slowing down the tourism industry. It is anticipated that when these barriers have been removed, it will add toward sustainable tourism development in Rwanda.

Reuse of historic buildings has become commonplace, but what should be done when a building has a history related to death and tragedy? Society has to determine its psychological approach to dealing with the past. This is commonly achieved through remembrance, converting the site into a museum or memorial, or denial, demolishing it. These actions unnecessarily allow the past to dictate the future. This thesis will look at an alternative solution through which adaptive reuse promotes a different approach to society's psychological understanding of collective memory. Adaptive reuse can honor the past while moving forward into a better future, encouraging society to come to terms with a difficult part of their collective history, but understanding that it should not define them. In recent years there has been a drastic increase in the popularity of 'dark tourism', the visitation to sites associated with death and tragedy. There is a spectrum of darkness that classifies the darkest places, such as Auschwitz-Birkenau, as sites where death and suffering physically occurred and the lightest places, like the United States Holocaust Museum, that are only associated. The most challenging sites are those that lie somewhere in between these two extremes. Communities should embrace the value of 'dark tourism' while maintaining an identity outside of the event and the architecture of the site should reflect this. Architecture can inspire the limitation and prevention of future sordid events if new program is introduced that is directly in response to the event through which the past can be remembered, but a better future embraced. / 0 / SPK / specialcollections@tulane.edu

<p>Sammanfattning</p><p>Rubrik</p><p>From Sea, Sand, Sun and Sex to Death, Disaster och Deprivation</p><p>-etiska överväganden vid utformningen av marknadskommunikation för dark tourism företag</p><p>Problem</p><p>Turism är en marknad under kontant utveckling vilket leder till att nya nischer utvecklas inom branschen för att tillfredställa kunders ökade krav. En av dessa underkategorier är dark tourism. Denna företeelse grundar sig i ett intresse att besöka platser som varit med om katastrofer. Att kommersialisera och exploatera död är ett kontroversiellt område och av många anser att denna sorts turism är oetisk. Det gäller för företag som arbetar med dark tourism att utforma marknadskommunikation som inte uppfattas som felaktig i kunders ögon. Tidigare har turism i sin marknadskommunikation fokuserat på vackra bilder och lyckliga människor. Företag som arbetar med dark tourism kan omöjligt följa i dessa fortspår utan måste finna andra vägar för att nå ut till sina kunder på ett effektivt och etiskt sätt.</p><p>Vår problemformulering lyder som följer:</p><p>Vilka etiska överväganden ställs företag som arbetar med dark tourism inför när de utformar sin marknadskommunikation?</p><p>Syfte</p><p>Vårt syfte är att identifiera vilken marknadskommunikationskanal som passar dark tourism företag utifrån de etiska aspekterna. Målsättningen i studien är att utveckla en teori om huruvida det är möjligt att behärska ”paradoxen” mellan etik och effektiv marknadskommunikation av dark tourism.</p><p>Teori</p><p>Teorin i denna studie grundas till största del på forskning inom dark tourism,</p><p>segmentering, etik och marknadskommunikation.</p><p>Metod</p><p>Vi har utfört en kvalitativ studie med fyra företag som arbetar med dark tourism, och utifrån detta studerat vilka etiska aspekter och segment de beaktar vid utformandet av sin marknadskommunikation. Utav dessa intervjuer genomfördes tre på telefon och en personligt.</p><p>Resultat</p><p>De konstateranden vi kan göra är att företag som arbetar med dark tourism ställs inför sex etiska överväganden vid utformandet av marknadskommunikation. Dessa är tid, geografisk närhet, sociala aspekter, kulturella aspekter, ekonomisk balans och en etisk policy. Det gäller för företag att vara medvetna om dessa samt sina segment för att kunna utforma en effektiv och etisk marknadskomunikation. Om företag som arbetar med dark tourism är medvetna om dessa kan de behrska paradoxen mellan etik och marknadskommunikation inom dark tourism. Genom att ha en insikt i segment samt etiska överväganden får företagen en kunskap om vilka marknadskommunikations kanaler de bör använda för att mest effektivt nå ut till sin marknad. Vi har funnit att de marknadskommunikations kanaler som passar de företag som deltagit i denna studie är media, webbsidor, personliga kontakter, word-of-mouth, e-mail, mässor, viral marketing samt text-meddelanden. Dessa kanaler anser vi är formbara så att det blir möjligt att vara etisk i marknadskommunikationen av dark tourism.</p>

Sammanfattning Rubrik From Sea, Sand, Sun and Sex to Death, Disaster och Deprivation -etiska överväganden vid utformningen av marknadskommunikation för dark tourism företag Problem Turism är en marknad under kontant utveckling vilket leder till att nya nischer utvecklas inom branschen för att tillfredställa kunders ökade krav. En av dessa underkategorier är dark tourism. Denna företeelse grundar sig i ett intresse att besöka platser som varit med om katastrofer. Att kommersialisera och exploatera död är ett kontroversiellt område och av många anser att denna sorts turism är oetisk. Det gäller för företag som arbetar med dark tourism att utforma marknadskommunikation som inte uppfattas som felaktig i kunders ögon. Tidigare har turism i sin marknadskommunikation fokuserat på vackra bilder och lyckliga människor. Företag som arbetar med dark tourism kan omöjligt följa i dessa fortspår utan måste finna andra vägar för att nå ut till sina kunder på ett effektivt och etiskt sätt. Vår problemformulering lyder som följer: Vilka etiska överväganden ställs företag som arbetar med dark tourism inför när de utformar sin marknadskommunikation? Syfte Vårt syfte är att identifiera vilken marknadskommunikationskanal som passar dark tourism företag utifrån de etiska aspekterna. Målsättningen i studien är att utveckla en teori om huruvida det är möjligt att behärska ”paradoxen” mellan etik och effektiv marknadskommunikation av dark tourism. Teori Teorin i denna studie grundas till största del på forskning inom dark tourism, segmentering, etik och marknadskommunikation. Metod Vi har utfört en kvalitativ studie med fyra företag som arbetar med dark tourism, och utifrån detta studerat vilka etiska aspekter och segment de beaktar vid utformandet av sin marknadskommunikation. Utav dessa intervjuer genomfördes tre på telefon och en personligt. Resultat De konstateranden vi kan göra är att företag som arbetar med dark tourism ställs inför sex etiska överväganden vid utformandet av marknadskommunikation. Dessa är tid, geografisk närhet, sociala aspekter, kulturella aspekter, ekonomisk balans och en etisk policy. Det gäller för företag att vara medvetna om dessa samt sina segment för att kunna utforma en effektiv och etisk marknadskomunikation. Om företag som arbetar med dark tourism är medvetna om dessa kan de behrska paradoxen mellan etik och marknadskommunikation inom dark tourism. Genom att ha en insikt i segment samt etiska överväganden får företagen en kunskap om vilka marknadskommunikations kanaler de bör använda för att mest effektivt nå ut till sin marknad. Vi har funnit att de marknadskommunikations kanaler som passar de företag som deltagit i denna studie är media, webbsidor, personliga kontakter, word-of-mouth, e-mail, mässor, viral marketing samt text-meddelanden. Dessa kanaler anser vi är formbara så att det blir möjligt att vara etisk i marknadskommunikationen av dark tourism.

Dark tourism, a subsection of heritage tourism, is growing in popularity and center around historic sites and museums. Those sites are put in the position to take advantage of the surging popularity of dark tourism by offering programming that complements it. Ghost tours, paranormal investigations, and haunted houses have all been utilized by museums and historic sites to boost revenue and attendance numbers. The implementation of dark programming raises difficult discussions on the role of museums in society and the ethics of profiting off of ghosts, spirits, and the paranormal. The decision to produce dark programming as a complement to dark tourism is best decided on a case to case basis, as no two museums or historic sites are the same. But every site that is considering dark programming needs to weigh their mission, ethics, their stakeholders, and the memory and space of their site before coming to a decision.

Denna studie har som syfte till att undersöka två dagstidningars och tre resetidningars framställning av Dark Tourism samt ta reda på vilka skillnader och likheter framställningarna har. Målet är även att finna en djupgående uppfattning av Dark Tourism och de olika perspektiven och gemensamma dragen som finns i artiklarna. Det empiriska materialet består av 25 artiklar varav 15 stycken kommer från dagstidningar och 10 stycken kommer ifrån resetidningar. En kritisk diskursanalys har tillämpats som metod i denna studie och resultaten visar att två olika diskurser, varav den ena är melankolisk och den andra är sangvinisk, präglar tidningsgenrerna. Det framgår även att diskurserna som råder i tidningarna kan ha en stor påverkan på människors uppfattning av fenomenet Dark Tourism. / This study aims to examine two daily newspapers and three travel magazines’ production of Dark Tourism, and find out what differences and similarities the petitions have. The aim is also to find an in-depth understanding of Dark Tourism and the different perspectives and common features found in the articles. The empirical material consists of 25 articles, of which 15 were from daily newspapers and 10 come from travel magazines. A critical discourse analysis has been applied as a method in this study and the results show that two different discourses, one of which is melancholic and the other is sanguine, characterizes these journal genres. It is also clear that the discourses that prevail in the newspapers can have a big impact on people's perception of the phenomenon of Dark Tourism.   Keywords: Dark Tourism, Discourse, Newspaper Articles, Critical Discourse Analysis, Media

The aim of this essay is to map, categorize and analyze ghost walks in Swedenduring year 2018-2020. The ghost walks that has been chosen are arranged bycompanies that specializes in ghost walks alone and companies where ghostwalks are one of the products that are offered. To answer the studys purpose andquestions a quantitative method has been used. A chart have been created tocategorize the various ghost walks in Sweden with variables as: Name, year,theme, authenticity and nuance along with three maps. The maps and the chartare the basis of this study created to answer the questions about the diffusion ofghost walks in Sweden, what nuances they have according to Stones (2006) Adark tourism spectrum and the authenticity of the Swedish ghost walks. Theresult is divided into three parts where the questions are answered with the helpof the maps and the chart created for this study. The result of this study revealsthat ghost walks are a relatively wide spread phenomenon in Sweden. 41 ghostwalks were found during this study from the very north of Sweden to the south.At the same time as there are ghost walks in Sweden 70% of them are forentertainment purposes only. This also means that they are on the very brightestpart of the spectrum. 30% were considered to be on the darker part of thespectrum. Along with the mapping and categorizing of the ghost walks togetherwith their nuances the authenticity of the walks were also mapped andcategorized. Based on the results from this study it is clear that ghost walks existin many forms all around Sweden. It is not based on any template which makesthem all unique in their own way. The location of the ghost walk can determinethe theme, but it can just as well not be. This creates a fascinating dark touristphenomenon that can vary in nuances, locations, authenticity and theme.