This study examines the emotional experiences of 152 respondents visiting ‘light’, ‘lighter’, and ‘lightest’ dark tourism sites and the relationship those experiences have with positive word-of-mouth. Therefore, the theoretical contribution of this study fills in the research gap by focusing on the destinations on the ‘lighter’ periphery of Stone’s Dark Tourism Spectrum. The ‘lighter’ destinations which are more commercialized, education- or entertainment-based in nature. In contrast to the destinations on the ‘darker’ periphery of the Dark Tourism Spectrum which are commemorative and where death and tragedy actually occurred. Our results suggest that tourists experience a broad range of both positive and negative emotions when visiting these destinations. Specifically, emotions like Interest, Positive Surprise, Disgust, and Negative Surprise have been found to have a positive relationship with Positive Word-of-Mouth. The results also suggest the practical contribution of this study and confirm that the suppliers of ‘lighter’ destinations are properly managing the dark tourism sites which results in their visitors to spread positive word-of-mouth.

This study aims to examine the motivation, experience and benefits of Nepalese domestic tourists visiting the seismic memorial sites after the 25 April 2015 earthquake (known as Gorkha earthquake). A total of 403 surveys was gathered from seismic sites of Nepal (Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Patan). Data were tested to analyze why the tourists are interested in disaster sites and how their experience during their visit impact the benefits of the visits. Additionally, partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was employed to test the relationships among tourist motivations, experiences, and perceived benefits at the dark tourism sites in Nepal. Among the five motivational factors discovered, the empirical results depict that emotional reaction is the strongest factor of the dark tourism motivation, affecting both cognitive and affective experiences. Additionally, this study confirms that cognitive experience is more influenced by dark tourism motivations than affective experience. Among the four experience factors examined in the study, self-reflection is found to have the strongest impact of three aspects of perceived dark tourism benefits, such as knowledge gain, fulfillment, and appreciation. Overall, the findings of the study provide important implications to the management sectors of dark tourism sites, enhancing the importance of providing cognitive experiences (i.e. distributing the educational materials about the dark tourism events and offering the knowledgeable tour guide who can guide the sites) and affective experience of the tourists (storytelling about the events, organizing educational and volunteering programs at the sites). Further, this study contributes to the limited literature in the context of dark tourism and provide important managerial and practical implications based on the case of Nepal earthquake in 2015.

Beginning in September 2010, seismic events shook the city of Christchurch, New Zealand, resulting in significant losses for the tourism sector, most notably the devastated Central Business District. Tourism had to adjust especially following two major earthquakes, with visitors able to partake in disaster-themed tourist attractions or viewing the destruction as part of a self-guided tour of the city. Such activities fall into the realm of ‘dark tourism’, or travel to sites of death, disaster or destruction. Following a major disaster with significant media coverage, tourism organizations often scramble to alter the outsider’s perception of the disaster-struck destination. Using a qualitative case study, this thesis explores two dominant themes associated with post-disaster tourism. First, it gathers perspectives of disaster tourism experiences and tourism industry recovery from multiple stakeholders to explore how tourism following a major disaster is a complex and multi-dimensional phenomenon. Second, it investigates how tourism advertising campaigns represented Christchurch, New Zealand and its inhabitants following the earthquakes. / Graduate / 0366

A large part of the tourism literature has focused on the phenomenon of slavery tourism, or the visitation of sites related to the Transatlantic Slave Trade. In the U.S. South, former plantation homes are popular sites of visitation, albeit very few studies have looked at African Americans' experiences there. The purpose of this qualitative dissertation is to understand both the politics of representation of slavery at slavery related sites (production side) and the different ways African American visitors make sense of these sites (consumption side). The present study uses the case of the African Burial Ground National Monument, a former cemetery for enslaved and free Africans living in colonial New Amsterdam (today New York City) and now a National Park in Lower Manhattan, which exhibits a complex combination of "darkness" and "sacredness." The site exposes the public to its contentious process of development and reveals that African American visitors have mixed perceptions of slavery and the way it should be remembered and represented on site (Africans as victims or as victors), as well as a range of motivations to visit, experiences and emotions attached to the site. This research illustrates how slavery tourism sites choose to represent slavery, whether from the perspective of the White slaveholders, as it has traditionally been done, or from the perspective of enslaved Africans, as it is done at the African Burial Ground. Whatever the strategy they choose, this study demonstrates that there is a process through which these sites go in order to create the final product to be presented in the brochures, tour narratives, and exhibits. This study illustrates how visitors' relationship to the site influences their experience there, including the physical, spiritual, and psychological acts they exercise (volunteering, praying, pouring libations, communicating with the ancestors, etc.), and the meanings they attach to the site visited, whether it is pride, sadness, anger, or peace. The significant insights from this study contribute to the current literature on slavery tourism, particularly the one on African American visitors' experiences, and suggest managerial propositions for the National Park Service and other institutions offering interpretive programs on slavery.

The work focuses on issues of witch trials and the Šumpersko Jesenicko. This is a proposal for the festival "AD CAELOS PROSPERO" on 325th anniversary of the burning Šumperk Dean K. A. Lautner, which will be held in the spirit of witch.

Thesis is concerned with the proposal of dark tourism development project. The proposed project locates in Znojmo region. Znojmo region has a considerable potential to develop varied forms of tourism, where falls within also dark tourism. Thesis purpose introduces two ways: First, the feasibility study realizes the potential in Znojmo region. Second, the feasibility study constructs the competent product, which contributes to region development. The product of project presents a nature trail "Tour behind the iron curtain" in National park Podyjí. Market analysis and demand analysis were implemented in the feasibility study. Financial analysis of the project and total costs effectiveness were interpreted in other period. Lastly all aspects of hazard were explored in the project including a total evaluation for investment grant.

Ghost stories have a long and diverse history, they appeared in religious contexts, in secular traditions, in entertainment, and in therapy and healing. Few elements of human culture have been as dynamic as the idea that the dead return to the living world as immaterial beings. Since the late nineteenth century Virginians have used ghost stories to talk about, interpret, and understand the historical significance of place. This dissertation argues that Virginians have used ghost stories to identify and make meaning of historical sites since the turn of the last century. These historical ghost stories sought to highlight the presence of the past, as well as Virginians’ close relationship with long-dead historical figures. Virginias used the ghost stories to argue that the commonwealth’s old structures and cities were especially historical and worthy of restoration. Founders of historical sites in Virginia used ghost stories as a way to offer their guests emotional, intimate, and personal connects to the celebrated past. The stories erased the distance of time, and suggested that past and present people cohabited in specifically defined historical places. Scholars who study historical sites often focus on the transition from volunteer to professional museum and public history workers. They argue that the professionalized workers rejected and silenced the public’s emotional understandings of place-based history, gave rise to more nuanced understandings of the field, and developed rich discussions on the roles that race, class, and gender play at historical sites. In that turn scholars have tended to ignore the publics’ emotional fascinations with historical sites, as seen through ghost stories. This dissertation illustrates that hauntings’ meanings and associations outlasted the professional turn and not helped establish the public’s trust in professional historical institutions, but continue to do so in the present day.

The aim of this diploma thesis is to confirm or refute hypothesis whether the city of Forlí has potential for tourism development. The thesis is divided into four chapters. The first chapter deals with the tourism in Italy and the Emilia Romagna region. The second chapter focuses on introdution of the city of Forlí, especially its sights. The third chapter analyses tourism services in Forlí and the last chapter is dedicated to trips that can be realized from Forlí, thanks to its convenient location within the region.

This thesis is focused on the variability of the demand and the development of new trends in the fields of the tourism industry. Special attention is devoted to a new arising trend of the Dark Tourism. This trend has appeared in the end of the 20th century and it has gained the attraction of media, tourists, tourism specialists and other stakeholders. First part of the thesis is concerned with the variety of the tourism industry and the ethic question of the tourism development. The other part contains the Dark Tourism definition and the prevailing motivation for taking part in this tourism trend. Then the thesis is concerned with the Czech Republic, it's conditions and destinations for developing the Dark Tourism. Last part is devoted to research among common tourists and their attitude to the Dark Tourism.

The purpose of this study is to investigate which motives tourists have to visit the Woodland Cemetery in Stockholm, Sweden and which feelings the visit brought. Furthermore, the study aims to find out where the locals in Stockholm think that the acceptable limit goes for tourism at the Woodland Cemetery and what potential conflicts that may occur between the groups. The study is based on a quantitative method with web surveys as an approach. Three surveys were sent to both national and international tourists and to people living in Stockholm. The compilation and presentation of data was made in Microsoft Excel where charts were designed. The results are discussed in relation to previous research, which forms the basis of the questions in the surveys. The result shows that the main motives for tourists to visit the Woodland Cemetery are because it is a beautiful place with beautiful nature, to experience the architecture and because the place has an interesting culture and history. The feelings most tourists felt were respect, a mental calm, humility, spirituality and emotional feelings. From the locals’ perspective, some respondents feel that tourism in the cemetery is acceptable, others do not want tourism at all and some even promote tourism. However, what emerged is that many of the respondents thinks it is about the volume and how things are done. Several people said that the limit goes when there are far too many tourists and when activities and functions are not being done with consideration and respect.