What is Dark Tourism and Why Kerala Police Warned Against it in Wayanad?
1 Aug 2024 9:25 PM IST
The phrase "dark tourism" was invented in 1996 by Lennon and Foley, two professors at Glasgow Caledonian University. (PTI Photo)
Heavy rains triggered landslides in the early hours on July 30 in Kerala's Wayanad killing at least 256 people and injuring more than 200 persons.
Mundakkai, Chooralmala, Attamala, and Noolpuzha villages were among the areas affected by the landslides.
The Kerala police have urged people to refrain from 'Dark Tourism' in Wayanad as it would affect the rescue operations.
The Kerala police have urged people to refrain from 'Dark Tourism' in Wayanad as it would affect the rescue operations.
"Please don't go to disaster areas for sightseeing. It will affect rescue operations. Call 112 for assistance," posted the Kerala police on X.
What is Dark Tourism
The phrase "dark tourism" was invented in 1996 by Lennon and Foley, two professors at Glasgow Caledonian University's Department of Hospitality, Tourism & Leisure Management,
Dark Tourism refers to visiting places which are associated with tragedy, violence, deaths or unusual events. The sites include disaster areas, crime scenes, battlefields, memorials, prisons, execution sites, cemeteries, and mausoleums.
Dark Tourism has gained worldwide attention because of the TV shows Chernobyl and The Dark Tourist.
Dark Tourism sites include the Chernobyl exclusion zone in Ukraine, Auschwitz Concentration Camp in Poland, 9/11 memorial in New York, US and Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park in Japan.
Kuldhara of Jaisalmer, Roopkund lake in Uttarakhand and Port Blair's Cellular Hail are some of the dark tourism destinations in India.
Why is it Popular?
People visit the dark tourism sites as it offers them an emotional connection to the sites where the tragedy took place. They tend to deeply engage with the history and location of the site and connect with the emotions of those who experienced the tragedy.
Dark tourism allows individuals to reflect on the significance of the historical events and people pay their respects to the suffered.
Social media is one of the reasons that dark tourism places are so popular. People share photos and videos of the sites on social media, which creates interest and curiosity in other people who watch them.
Dark Tourism has gained worldwide attention because of the TV shows Chernobyl and The Dark Tourist.
Dark Tourism sites include the Chernobyl exclusion zone in Ukraine, Auschwitz Concentration Camp in Poland, 9/11 memorial in New York, US and Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park in Japan.
Kuldhara of Jaisalmer, Roopkund lake in Uttarakhand and Port Blair's Cellular Hail are some of the dark tourism destinations in India.
Why is it Popular?
People visit the dark tourism sites as it offers them an emotional connection to the sites where the tragedy took place. They tend to deeply engage with the history and location of the site and connect with the emotions of those who experienced the tragedy.
Dark tourism allows individuals to reflect on the significance of the historical events and people pay their respects to the suffered.
Social media is one of the reasons that dark tourism places are so popular. People share photos and videos of the sites on social media, which creates interest and curiosity in other people who watch them.
( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
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