Kerala, a place famous for backwater trips, beautiful hills, tea gardens, and waterfalls has rapidly turned into a tragedy where a horrific landslide in Wayanad has killed at least 200 people. Amidst this terrible and disastrous occurrences, the Kerala Police gave a warning against dark tourism advising that individuals keep off the tragedy-prone areas as they would interfere with the rescue operation. This plea highlights a growing global trend: dark tourism in which people travel to places that have historical disasters and people’s suffering.
What is Dark tourism?
There is nothing new in such a form of tourism, known also as dark tourism or thanatourism. More precisely, it goes back to occasions such as the Battle of Waterloo where fans observed the battlefields. Currently it includes such trips as to Auschwitz, Chernobyl, Gettysburg or the place where JFK was assassinated. The term was coined by Professor J. John Lennon, who notes its historical roots and modern resurgence.
A recent study by Passport-photo.online revealed that 82% of surveyed Americans had visited at least one dark tourism site. Many expressed a desire to visit active or former war zones, such as Ukraine post-conflict. In India, popular dark tourism sites include the Cellular Jail in Port Blair, Roopkund Lake in Uttarakhand, and Kuldhara village in Rajasthan, each with its own harrowing history.
It’s not new!
Philip Stone, executive director of the Institute for Dark Tourism Research, explains that dark tourism reflects a cultural fascination with the darker side of history. He believes it offers a way to confront and understand the realities of death, disaster, and human suffering. Stone argues that these sites serve as mirrors, reflecting our potential actions in similar circumstances and fostering a deeper consciousness about the future.
However, dark tourism has its darker aspects. The tragic case of Otto Warmbier, a student who died after being detained in North Korea for allegedly stealing a poster, underscores the risks. Despite such dangers, the curiosity and educational potential of dark tourism persist.
In Kerala, authorities emphasize the importance of keeping tourists away from Wayanad to ensure rescue operations can proceed unimpeded. This appeal highlights the fine line between the educational value of dark tourism and the potential for it to interfere with critical emergency responses. As the trend grows, balancing respect for ongoing tragedies with the public’s curiosity remains a crucial challenge.
