DARK TOURISM : ENVIRONMENT

NEWS: What is dark tourism that Kerala Police is warning against in Wayanad

 

WHAT’S IN THE NEWS ?

Dark Tourism Overview

Definition

  • Dark Tourism: Visiting locations associated with death, disaster, or suffering.

 

Ethical Concerns

  • Interference with Rescue Efforts: Tourists can disrupt ongoing rescue and relief operations, as seen in Wayanad, Kerala.
  • Commercialization of Tragedy: Exploiting sites of suffering for profit can be disrespectful to victims.

 

Global Hotspots

  • Auschwitz, Poland: Former Nazi concentration camp; now a memorial and museum.
  • Chornobyl, Ukraine: Site of the 1986 nuclear disaster; attracts tourists to view the abandoned town of Pripyat.
  • Gettysburg, USA: Site of the bloody Battle of Gettysburg during the American Civil War.
  • Dealey Plaza, USA: Location of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination.

 

Indian Hotspots

  • Cellular Jail, Port Blair: Infamous for its brutal treatment of Indian freedom fighters.
  • Roopkund Lake, Uttarakhand: Known as 'Skeleton Lake' with hundreds of skeletal remains.
  • Kuldhara Village, Rajasthan: Abandoned village with legends of sudden desertion.

 

Reasons for Interest

  • Curiosity and Reflection: Understanding harsh realities of history or disaster.
  • Breaking Routine: Seeking excitement and a break from everyday life.
  • Educational Value: Learning about significant historical events or tragedies.

 

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/dark-tourism-warning-kerala-police-wayanad-landslide-killed-143-what-is-dark-tourism-global-hotspots-tragedy-tourists-2574337-2024-07-31