Dark Tourism
Some of our students on the fieldltrip.
Well informed modern travellers want to see places associated with sometimes very difficult events in a country's history. People who organise tours and manage these sites must apply knowledge and sensitivity to promote an understanding of what these places mean.
”Geoff Shirt, Travel and Tourism Lecturer
Visiting Auschwitz
Travel and Tourism Management students visited the Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz and the historic Jewish Quarter of Krakow to experience an emerging phenomenon known as 'dark tourism'.
Over half a million people visit Auschwitz-Birkenau each year and are given a tour of the fragmented remains of the sites.
What do we mean by 'dark tourism'?
'Dark tourism' looks at how challenging issues are presented in real life. It's an emerging area of study as public interest in travel grows.
An essential part of our trip to Poland
The visits to Auschwitz and Krakow formed an essential part of our group trip to Poland to see the viewpoint of tourists and how modern travel and tourism operate in practice.
Before the trip, the students were given some background reading and while they were there they completed tasks and group discussions.
The students were able to observe for themselves the care that goes into showing tourists some of the worst subjects imaginable. Krakow's former synagogue is now a Museum of Judaism celebrating Jewish cultural heritage and showing sensitively what happened there during World War II.
What our lecturers said
Asia Alder, Part time lecturer and doctoral student said:
"Normally on holiday people enjoy themselves, but on this visit the students were asked to step back, think about what they experienced and to reflect on it.
"We visited Poland for the first time in the 60th anniversary year of the liberation of Auschwitz. In the past, group trips had been to more conventional tourist resort destinations. We were concerned that Poland might be an unpopular choice, but it turned out to be so rewarding that we've taken students there again this year."
What our students said
"The trip opened my eyes to a completely new and interesting area that has so much to offer."
Hannah Logan, a Travel and Tourism Management student who went on the trip to Poland and experienced 'dark tourism' first hand.
