What is Dark Tourism?
Source: India Today
GS IV: Ethics
What you should know?
- News in Brief
- What is Dark Tourism?
Why in the News?
After the recent Wayanad landslide, Kerala Police warned about Dark Tourism.
News in Brief
- With green hills and gushing waterfalls, Wayanad is a destination for tourists looking for some tranquillity.
- The peace was, however, broken by the landslide that claimed at least 150 lives and prompted the Kerala Police to discourage dark tourism.
- Kerala, which regularly promotes itself as a top tourist destination, sends a rare warning.
- Kerala Police asked people to desist from dark tourism, which could hinder rescue efforts in Wayanad.
What is Dark Tourism?
- This type of tourism is where people tend to visit places associated with tragedy.
- This type of tourism can include sites of natural disasters, genocides, battles, and other tragic events.
- Positive Aspects
- It often serves an educational purpose.
- It helps visitors understand and reflect on historical events and their impacts.
- It can foster a deeper appreciation of history and the lessons learned from past tragedies.
- Negative Aspect
- It as exploitative or insensitive.
- Ethical considerations include how sites are presented and the behaviour of visitors.
- What is the reason?
- People are drawn to this for various reasons.
- This including a fascination with history, a desire to pay respects, or a curiosity about human resilience in the face of adversity.
Conclusion
It offers a unique way to engage with history and understand the profound impacts of tragic events. While it can be educational and thought-provoking, it also requires sensitivity and respect for the sites and the memories they hold.
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