Ethics in Dark Tourism

Ethics in Dark Tourism

Dark Tourism Sites historically associated with death and tragedy. Lennon. J (1996)Negitive sightseeing MacCannell, (1989)Visitation to places where tragedies or historically noteworthy death has occurred and that continue to impact our lives. Tarlow, (2005)Places you wouldn'tt bring your nan Joly, (2011)

Categories of Dark TourismSeaton, (1996)

Historical

Contemporary

The Dark tourist

Visitors have long been fascinated with sites associated with suffering and death Wight, (2006)

Motivations of the dark tourist The closer the relationship the stronger the experience

Insecurity Gratitude HumilitySuperiority Tarlo (2005)Romanticism CompassionMysticismMorbid curiosity Seaton (1996)

If the motivations of the dark tourist are simply to be entertained then those who suffered and are suffering become a thing of spectacle, a thing of disgrace.(Damms, 2005)

What is ethical in Dark Tourism Stalin World

If youre a fan of former soviet statues, snail shell art and emus, this is the place for you Trip Advisor Each visitor upon encountering dark tourism sets the parameters for the level of engagement with the issues , and the extent to which the narrative is morally acceptable is similarly personalised. (Lenin 2007)

Built under the pretence of preserving history. Quarter of a million lithunains deported or sent to the gulags. Or arrested . 9

Deontological vs TeleologicalIn Dark Tourism Deontologist Process Based Human Dignity Universality TeleologistOutcome based Egotism Utilitarianism

KantianismThe motivations of the product, Education, remembrance The enjoyment of the stakeholders, providers and tourists

Utilitarianism The consequences of the productThe enjoyment of the individual,

Ethics in Dark tourism

Dark Tourism; The ethical dimension Is it ethical to develop, promote and offer dark tourism as a tourism product? (Sharpley, 2009)Consuming tourism alongside the grieving.Interpreting the impossible AuschwitzCommodification of tragedy(exit through the gift shop)Disaster Tourism, going back too soon

Consuming tourism alongside the grieving.

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The commodification of tragedy The rights of those whose death is commoditised and commercialised through dark tourism represent and important ethical dimension deserving consideration (Lise, 2004).

Interpreting the impossible

Jews as victims or hero's. When we travel to experience cultures we do so not to find out the truth about that culture but to confirm out preconceived notions about it. An Americanized version of the truth. One death is a tragdey 1 million is a statistic. 15

Disaster tourismGoing back too soon New Orleans Southern China

I was here The work of Ambroise Tezenes and John Lennon

complex interrogations of how countries reckon with their past crimes, of the commodification of tragedy, and of the human impulse to look upon death and disaster. New Yorker

Conclusion The dark tourist What is appropriate, ethical. The responsibility of remembering, to whom we in trust memory. Ethical issues in dark tourism, tourists and grievers, commodification, ethical interpretation and disaster tourism.

Recommendations The ethics of the tourist dictates the ethics of the product.The story teller has responsibilities, the narrative should be more important that the product.The wider media had implications on the product.Authenticity is crucial for the experience. The dark tourism product should be aware of culture differences.

Questions?