From tragedy to travel trend: the bizarre allure of dark tourism
Image: Pexels/Rakicevic Nenad
When most people imagine a vacation, they picture sunshine, relaxation and escape from the daily grind - not sites of devastation and death.
However, for a growing number of travellers, tourism takes on a different form, venturing into the shadows of history.
Also known as thanatourism, black tourism or grief tourism, dark tourism involves visiting locations associated with tragedy, death, suffering or the gruesome.
From former concentration camps and nuclear disaster zones to abandoned prisons and battlefields, these sites offer more than just historical facts - they offer raw, often emotional insight into the darkest chapters of the human experience.
So, what compels someone to spend their holiday visiting places steeped in trauma and loss?
For many, the answer lies in a deep desire to understand - to engage with history not as something distant and abstract, but something that was lived and felt.
Walking through a preserved concentration camp or standing in the ruins of a bombed-out city offers an innate reminder of what humanity is capable of - both its cruelty and its resilience.
There's a human instinct that draws us to tragedy - the same one that causes drivers to slow down at the scene of a car crash.
It's not just morbid curiosity; for many dark tourists, it's about making sense of the senseless.
Some visit to honour the dead, others to educate themselves and still others to confront the horror that words alone cannot convey.
As my friend who recently visited Robben Island put it: 'You can read about history, but being here, feeling that changes everything.'
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Next
Stay
Close ✕
Ad Loading
South Africa's Robben Island is one of the most visited dark tourism destinations.
Image: Ian Landsberg/Independent Newspapers
Journalist David Farrier explored this global phenomenon in the 2018 Netflix documentary 'Dark Tourist'.
In the series, Farrier travels to unsettling destinations across the world, from nuclear exclusion zones to voodoo rituals, chasing the question: why do people voluntarily seek out places so closely tied to fear, pain and death?
Some experts argue that dark tourism is a way of feeling more alive, a shock of intensity before returning to the safety of modern life.
Others see it as a form of grief work or historical reckoning. Either way, dark tourism isn't new.
According to Professor J. John Lennon, one of the earliest examples dates back to the Battle of Waterloo, when wealthy spectators watched the fighting unfold from their carriages.
Go even further back and you'll find crowds gathering for public hangings in 16th-century England, or the blood-soaked gladiator games of ancient Rome.
Whether for entertainment, reflection or education, humanity has long been fascinated by death.
In modern times, dark tourism has also evolved into a way of preserving memory and encouraging reflection. It offers context to the past and forces visitors to reckon with truths that are uncomfortable but necessary to remember.
Some of the most visited dark tourism destinations today include:
Auschwitz-Birkenau, Poland
Over 1.5 million people, mostly Jews, were murdered at this Nazi death camp during World War II. It now stands as a museum and memorial, reminding the world of the horrors of the Holocaust.
Robben Island, South Africa
This is a notorious apartheid-era prison where Nelson Mandela was held for 18 years. Tours are often led by former prisoners, offering powerful testimony on injustice, resistance and reconciliation.
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, Japan
This is the site of the atomic bombing in 1945. Home to the Atomic Bomb Dome and Peace Memorial Museum, it's a solemn tribute to the lives lost and a call for global peace.
Oradour-sur-Glane, France
This is a French village that was destroyed by Nazi troops in 1944; 642 civilians were massacred. Preserved in its ruined state, the ghost town stands as a haunting reminder of wartime atrocities.
Despite its educational and emotional power, dark tourism isn't without controversy.
Critics argue that some sites risk turning trauma into spectacle, or that visitors may approach them with curiosity rather than genuine respect.
But when done thoughtfully and ethically, dark tourism can play a vital role in ensuring that past tragedies are not forgotten.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
4 days ago
- IOL News
'I just want to hug him': Mother's joy as son returns from stranded soccer trip in Spain
FAMILY and friends celebrate the return of the BT Football Academy soccer team at the Cape Town International Airport. Image: Ian Landsberg/Independent Newspapers A mother has shared her excitement of finally seeing her son on Thursday who is among the 25 aspiring soccer stars left stranded in Spain. Dominique Charles from Bellville told the Cape Argus her son, Michael Duminy, 17, is expected to land on South African soil on Thursday afternoon, She has not seen him since July 6. Charles said her son was one of the teenagers who helped the coaches with supervising the others. 'I cannot wait, I do not know how to describe it. It is just a matter of seeing him and wanting to hug him,' she said. 'I cannot thank everyone enough, whether it was through prayer, financial, emotional or mental support, it was a tough time. 'Thank God for making it happen.' Charles said she managed to raise the R48 500 for her son after he was selected to be part of the Donosti Cup 2025 and that she was horrified when she learnt her son and others were stranded. She also managed to secure another R15 000 a week ago. Return flights for the group were apparently not booked after BT Academy claimed their visa appointments were delayed and prices of the tickets increased. 'I was told there isn't enough money and that another R15 000 was needed,' she said. 'That was last Thursday. "I had to borrow the money from different people because what bank is going to give you that kind of money immediately? I still need to pay that back. "This has been a learning curve for everyone. 'I just want to thank the people of Spain also for their hospitality, if it had not been for Tracey Lange and everyone who helped, I don't know what we would have done. According to travel experts, the visa and ticket oversight should have been flagged during the departure process. Most countries, including South Africa, require proof of onward or return travel as a condition of entry and departure - especially when minors are involved. An issued flight ticket refers to a paid, confirmed airline booking that includes all details of the journey. However, an issued one-way ticket cannot be used as a return ticket, unless specifically purchased as a round-trip fare with both outbound and inbound segments. Without such proof, passengers risk being denied entry or even deported from foreign countries. Local radio personality Tracy Lange stepped in to help. She contacted travel agent Melisha Moodley of Travel Direct, who in turn teamed up with Ceu Dia, another travel consultant. Together, they launched a rescue mission to bring the children home through emergency fundraising and donations. Get your news on the go, click here to join the Cape Argus News WhatsApp channel. Cape Argus
IOL News
5 days ago
- IOL News
SANParks defends its management against #SaveTableMountain petition
SANParks Head of Communications and Spokesperson, JP Louw, has spoken out against these stakeholder claims of Table Mountain National Park mismanagement. Image: Armand Hough/Independent Newspapers South African National Parks (SANParks) has hit back at a recent petition issued by a group of stakeholders opposed to the current management of Table Mountain National Park (TMNP). The petition is demanding accountability, calling for comprehensive action to restore and protect Table Mountain, and has crossed 5,800 signatures, with them urging more concerned residents to join them. This campaign, driven by Friends of Table Mountain and supported by Take Back Our Mountains, Love Our Trails, Table Mountain Watch, Table Mountain Bikers and Hikers Network, said that they believe it's their right and responsibility to demand accountability and action. They claim that TMNP suffers from critical issues directly linked to SANParks' poor management and underfunding. They are also concerned by the persistently high crime rates, failure of their conservation mandate, decaying infrastructure, insufficient signage, runaway fires, and the decay of tourism infrastructure. SANParks head of communications and spokesperson, JP Louw, has spoken out against these claims, stating that an independent assessment of the implementation of TMNP's management plan scored the entity an overall high of 75%. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading Louw said this assessment was done by Conservation Outcome, a biodiversity non-governmental organisation that supports the development and management of land for biodiversity conservation. They are also a member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature - IUCN. 'The scores of specific areas of focus is 43% for bioregional management, 90% for responsible tourism, 66% for biodiversity management, 57% for constituency building, 43% for cultural heritage, 90% for responsible tourism and 89% for effective park management. 'This report provides us with factual and objective information which allows for SANParks to continue with its management of Table Mountain National Park based on science and evidence-based detail,' Louw said. 'This overall positive assessment comes amid the unfortunate circulation of a misleading petition issued by a small group of stakeholders opposed to the current management of TMNP.' Commenting on some of the stakeholders' specific complaints, Louw said they had a crime incident spike in January to March this year, but the figures have since dropped back to single-digit incidents. 'In the past year, the figures were primarily in the region of single digits.' He added that the safety alerts issued by foreign consulates relate to South Africa as a whole and not Table Mountain alone. While fires are started by religious groups, they account for about 10% of fires in the past 3 years. 'Fact is that the majority of fires are caused by arsonists and vagrants. 'We have had a few fires this year, and the infrastructure that burnt down was toilet blocks at Silvermine. No infrastructure was damaged during the Newlands Ravine fire, the Tokai and Muizenberg fires,' Louw said. 'We have a management plan to control alien vegetation. We also have an Extended Public Works programme to clear alien vegetation with the support of collaborative NGOs.' He also addressed the claim that '76% of the R430 million was sent to other parks' and said last year they clarified to Take Back Our Mountain (TBOM) that the R107 million referenced in their claim represents only direct, park-level expenditure. 'It does not account for essential corporate-level costs.' And with regards to the tourism infrastructure left to decay and losing potential revenue, 'we have tenders issued to refurbish and renew infrastructure such as Rhodes Memorial, Hoerikwaggo trail, and Orange Kloof tented camp'. Louw stated that SANParks actively seeks collaborative relationships across all its national parks. 'The organisations concerned are encouraged to rather continue with a relationship that is constructive and collaborative in nature as opposed to acrimony and misleading information.'
IOL News
6 days ago
- IOL News
From tragedy to travel trend: the bizarre allure of dark tourism
When we think of holidays, we picture sun, serenity and a break from reality - not the chilling echoes of devastation and death that dark tourism sites confront us with. Image: Pexels/Rakicevic Nenad When most people imagine a vacation, they picture sunshine, relaxation and escape from the daily grind - not sites of devastation and death. However, for a growing number of travellers, tourism takes on a different form, venturing into the shadows of history. Also known as thanatourism, black tourism or grief tourism, dark tourism involves visiting locations associated with tragedy, death, suffering or the gruesome. From former concentration camps and nuclear disaster zones to abandoned prisons and battlefields, these sites offer more than just historical facts - they offer raw, often emotional insight into the darkest chapters of the human experience. So, what compels someone to spend their holiday visiting places steeped in trauma and loss? For many, the answer lies in a deep desire to understand - to engage with history not as something distant and abstract, but something that was lived and felt. Walking through a preserved concentration camp or standing in the ruins of a bombed-out city offers an innate reminder of what humanity is capable of - both its cruelty and its resilience. There's a human instinct that draws us to tragedy - the same one that causes drivers to slow down at the scene of a car crash. It's not just morbid curiosity; for many dark tourists, it's about making sense of the senseless. Some visit to honour the dead, others to educate themselves and still others to confront the horror that words alone cannot convey. As my friend who recently visited Robben Island put it: 'You can read about history, but being here, feeling that changes everything.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading South Africa's Robben Island is one of the most visited dark tourism destinations. Image: Ian Landsberg/Independent Newspapers Journalist David Farrier explored this global phenomenon in the 2018 Netflix documentary 'Dark Tourist'. In the series, Farrier travels to unsettling destinations across the world, from nuclear exclusion zones to voodoo rituals, chasing the question: why do people voluntarily seek out places so closely tied to fear, pain and death? Some experts argue that dark tourism is a way of feeling more alive, a shock of intensity before returning to the safety of modern life. Others see it as a form of grief work or historical reckoning. Either way, dark tourism isn't new. According to Professor J. John Lennon, one of the earliest examples dates back to the Battle of Waterloo, when wealthy spectators watched the fighting unfold from their carriages. Go even further back and you'll find crowds gathering for public hangings in 16th-century England, or the blood-soaked gladiator games of ancient Rome. Whether for entertainment, reflection or education, humanity has long been fascinated by death. In modern times, dark tourism has also evolved into a way of preserving memory and encouraging reflection. It offers context to the past and forces visitors to reckon with truths that are uncomfortable but necessary to remember. Some of the most visited dark tourism destinations today include: Auschwitz-Birkenau, Poland Over 1.5 million people, mostly Jews, were murdered at this Nazi death camp during World War II. It now stands as a museum and memorial, reminding the world of the horrors of the Holocaust. Robben Island, South Africa This is a notorious apartheid-era prison where Nelson Mandela was held for 18 years. Tours are often led by former prisoners, offering powerful testimony on injustice, resistance and reconciliation. Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, Japan This is the site of the atomic bombing in 1945. Home to the Atomic Bomb Dome and Peace Memorial Museum, it's a solemn tribute to the lives lost and a call for global peace. Oradour-sur-Glane, France This is a French village that was destroyed by Nazi troops in 1944; 642 civilians were massacred. Preserved in its ruined state, the ghost town stands as a haunting reminder of wartime atrocities. Despite its educational and emotional power, dark tourism isn't without controversy. Critics argue that some sites risk turning trauma into spectacle, or that visitors may approach them with curiosity rather than genuine respect. But when done thoughtfully and ethically, dark tourism can play a vital role in ensuring that past tragedies are not forgotten.
