BEYOND THE LIGHT: INNOVATIVE MICRO-NICHE INSIGHTS INTO DARK TOURISM’S DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

The concept of "dark tourism" is the allure of death and disaster, inspiring travel behaviors that have gained prominence in recent years. Global occurrences of public health crises, extreme natural disasters, and malicious human actions have become alarmingly frequent. These events, while resulting in significant loss of life and property, have unwittingly bestowed upon us valuable resources for dark tourism. Brown's comprehensive definition of dark tourist destinations encompasses sites linked to death, pain, and tragic events. Consequently, many locations across the globe can be categorized as providers of dark tourism experiences. Dark tourist attractions serve as direct conduits for drawing historical lessons and are repositories of both collective and personal memories of disasters. An increasing number of tourists seek the profound experience of tension and spiritual fulfillment associated with death through dark tourism. The effective positioning and future development trajectory of this unique niche in the tourism industry are essential to cater to the evolving interests and demands of these travelers.