Dark Tourism

1. Look at the pictures and describe them. Can you identify any of these places?
Do they
have anything in common?
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2. Read the text and find out about the photographs. Translate and explain the
vocabulary you don’t know. Pay attention to the underlined words.
Dark tourism: why murder sites and

disaster zones are proving popular
Chilling and macabre experiences aren't just for Halloween. There's an increasing demand from
tourists to visit the locations of some of the world's most horrific events
Adapted from theguardian.com, Thursday 31 October 2013 14.58 GMT
When it comes to holiday jaunts, the site of a nuclear disaster zone, the home of a serial killer
or the execution chamber of a former state prison don't scream "wish you were here". But
while it might not be everyone's idea of fun, demand for macabre attractions and disturbing
experiences that recreate horrific moments in history is growing – dark tourism is on the rise.
Places such as Auschwitz-Birkenau, the Cambodian killing fields and Ground Zero are some
of the best known destinations that fall under the dark tourism category.
As well as the well-known sites of memorial and human tragedy, there are increasing
opportunities for travellers to immerse themselves in unpleasant experiences of the past. In
Vietnam, visitors to the Cu Chi tunnels, used during the Vietnam war, are invited to crawl
around inside, while above ground a firing range offers the chance to use an AK47.
This week photographer Ina Fassbender reported on her experience of spending the night in a
former bunker in East Germany. The bunker museum at Rennsteighoehe offers a "reality
experience", where visitors can spend a grueling 16 hours dressed as and being treated like a
former DDR soldier. Some of the "officers" leading the tour actually were soldiers during the
Cold War.
Similarly, in Latvia, the Karosta Prision, now a hotel, invites guests to be a prisoner for the
day. Before being shown to your cell, guests must sign an agreement allowing them to be
insulted and treated like a prisoner. If you disobey orders guards can be force you to do
physical exercise or cleaning jobs.
3. Now when you found out the connection about dark tourism and the photographs
match them with the appropriate information and provide a short definition of dark
tourism that could be used as an encyclopedia entry.
Poenari Castle - a ruined castle in Romania, notable for its connection to Vlad III the Impaler
Claimed to be the “real” Castle of Dracula as featured in Bram Stoker’s famous Dracula
novel.
Pompeii - the ruins of Pompeii in Italy have been a travel destination for 250 years, making it
perhaps the original dark tourism site.
Hiroshima - Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park is dedicated to the tens of thousands who lost
their lives in the nuclear attacks of 1945.
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Prisons - Lots of former prisons are open to the public, including Alcatraz, on an island off
the coast of San Francisco.
Auschwitz- the Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz (Oświęcim, Poland) exerts a terrible
fascination. One room exhibits thousands of pairs of glasses, another is full with shoes,
another with hair. Corridor walls display the lists of victims’ names and the dates of their
death.
Ground Zero - the World Trade Centre site has attracted visitors ever since the 9/11 attacks
in 2001. Construction of a memorial was completed ten years later. A 9/11 Memorial
Museum is also found on the site.
What is dark tourism? Provide a short definition that could be used as an encyclopedia
entry.
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4. Questions for discussion.
There are three subcategories related to dark tourism: disaster tourism, war tourism and slum
tourism. Can you explain them? Find examples of disaster and war tourism from the
exercise 3.
Why do people visit such places? What are the advantages and disadvantages of dark
tourism?
Why dark tourism may be considered controversial?
Do you know any other places that may be considered interesting holiday destinations for
dark tourists? Are there any of such places in your country or city?
Have you ever visited a place like this? Where was it?
Would you like to visit any of the places described in exercise 3? Explain your reasons why?
Do you know the story of Pompeii? If not, find out from someone in your class or on the
Internet.
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1. Look at the pictures and describe them. Can you identify any of these places?

Dark tourism: why murder sites and

Adapted from theguardian.com, Thursday 31 October 2013 14.58 GMT

4. Questions for discussion.

Why dark tourism may be considered controversial?

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