A central aim of this study is to establish tourist motivations to visit dark sites such as Tuol Sleng and Choeung Ek in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The body of literature that exists around dark tourism published so far agrees there is a general lack of understanding around dark tourism motivations. The research questions set out in this study ask if tourists who visit such sites view themselves as dark tourists, whether time plays a role in their motivations to visit and what factors inspire them to visit such sites. The study also considers sub-conscious, psychological and instinctive drivers that exist which may compel tourists to visit and experience dark sites. The study revealed that tourists who visited Tuol Sleng and/or Choeung Ek did not consider themselves dark tourists, and moreover, did not like to be associated with the terminology. They assumed that to be labelled a dark tourist, their motivations would be inspired by the dark and macabre nature of the sites, or that they would seek enjoyment from their visit. They were keen to stress that this was not the case. They were there to learn and understand what happened and to experience Cambodia properly. Moreover, tourist guidebooks, such as The Lonely Planet heavily advise a visit and act as a powerful driver, as well as trusted word-of-mouth sources. The study also revealed that chronology heightens curiosity and motivation to visit, but does not act as a motivator in its own right - tourists would have visited anyway. A significant finding of this study reveals that human instinct and psychology plays an important role in human fascination with violent death and, therefore, visits to dark sites. We need to learn and understand what happens to either avoid it happening to us, or to learn how to survive should we find ourselves in the same situation. Visiting such sites is part of our psychological make-up and that these drivers exits in all of us to a greater or lesser degree.

Sports tourism has received growing attention in academic research over the past two decades but limited focus has been given to understanding the consumer and factors influencing decisions to include sport as part of the trip. This research provides, through a focus on the sport of golf, insight into the characteristics of the sports tourist, how participation is included in trips, how the emotional rewards gained from participation can influence sports tourist behaviours, and thus influence the selection of locations deemed suitable for sports participation. Specifically the aim of this thesis is to evaluate the relationships between golfer characteristics, golfer behaviours and destination choice. The research employs a grounded theory methodology, underpinned by a constructivist epistemology. This informed the process used to gather and analyse data as well as the presentation of this thesis. Three iterations of data (presented as discrete chapters) provide a robust analysis of literature and the twenty-seven interviews with UK-based golf tourists. Analysis elucidated the golfer characteristics, concluding with the development of a golf tourism participation spectrum. This understanding of the golf tourist informed the development of a substantive theory explaining the relationship between golf tourist behaviours and destination selection. A model detailing that the relationship is constructed through six conceptual strands (construction of the golf holiday, emotional rewards of participation, total trip spend, amenities and support facilities, course characteristics and influences of reputation). The first four of these strands directly influences golfer behaviour, with the latter two strands combining with behaviour to determine destination selection. Significant to the substantive theory is the identification of four spheres of influence (group dynamics, the role of competitions and ability, golfing capital and the role of intermediaries) which interact with the conceptual strands to govern destination selection. This thesis concludes by proposing a model which considers the findings in relation to the wider sport tourism sector.