MICRO-NICHE MARKETS AND THE FUTURE OF DARK TOURISM

Abstract

Dark tourism, characterized by its attraction to sites associated with death, suffering, and tragic events, has gained popularity among travelers in recent years. This phenomenon has been fueled by a surge in public health crises, extreme natural disasters, and malicious human actions worldwide. These unfortunate events, while causing substantial harm in terms of casualties and property damage, have inadvertently transformed into valuable resources for dark tourism. Brown (2013) adopted an expansive perspective, defining dark tourist destinations as places linked to death, pain, and horrifying events. This broad interpretation allows for numerous global tourist sites to be categorized as dark tourism providers. Such destinations serve as tangible repositories of historical lessons and repositories of collective or personal memories of disasters. An increasing number of tourists are drawn to dark tourism in search of experiences that offer a profound connection to death and its associated emotions. As the demand for this unique form of tourism grows, it is essential to establish precise definitions and future development strategies for dark tourism. This abstract explores the multifaceted aspects of dark tourism and its implications for the tourism industry, helping stakeholders understand its evolving nature and the opportunities it presents.