Professor and researcher of criminology and law at San Jorge University, Jorge Gracia Ibáñez, writes on the portal “The Conversation” about the popularity of so-called dark tourism.
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This summer, a major drug dealer from Galicia, Laureano Oubiña, began organizing “drug smuggling tours” in the Arousa Bay. He offered clients a boat trip to places recalling an entire period of drug smuggling and promised to tell the whole story firsthand. Lunch was also included in the offer.
He offered clients a boat trip to places recalling an entire period of drug smuggling.
However, the Galician regional government banned this initiative, finding that it violated the laws regulating tourism activities.
This case is classified as dark tourism – trips to places associated with death, violence, and crime. At the same time, it raises the question of whether this increasingly popular phenomenon is starting to cross the line.
Curiosity intertwined with the desire to understand
Dark tourism is both a commercial term related to the constant need of the tourism sector to offer something new and a distinct social phenomenon.
It is of interest to cultural criminology researchers who study how society understands crimes and evaluates violence. The popular genre of documentary criminology, or “true crime” – series, podcasts, books, and films analyzing serious crimes – is also relevant to this field.
Both documentary criminology and dark tourism depend on prevailing societal trends and reveal how people try to comprehend violence and crimes. The reaction to them is not straightforward: curiosity intertwines with the need to reflect on events, preserve their memory, understand the causes, and give meaning to the tragedy.
From Auschwitz to criminal routes
Dark tourism, which interests criminologists, is mostly related to crimes, violence, and justice, but its forms are very diverse. Some travelers visit places where tragic events occurred or where human rights were grossly violated, such as concentration camps and memorials.
This type of tourism also includes places related to armed conflicts – from Vietnam to World War II – and historic prisons like Alcatraz.
Dark tourism routes can also lead to city districts notorious for high crime rates, located outside usual tourist routes. Such trips are organized in neighborhoods considered dangerous in New York or favelas in Rio de Janeiro.
Sometimes tours deliberately aim to dispel the stigma associated with crime in an area. For example, Mexico City authorities organize the “Tepitour” tour, offering participants a different perspective on the infamously known Tepito district, where the “Unión Tepito” cartel operates.
Other routes follow the footsteps of specific criminals. One of the best-known examples is tours related to Pablo Escobar in Colombia.
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However, the professor emphasizes that these places cannot be evaluated equally. Visiting the Auschwitz concentration camp is not the same as a tour of London following the supposed footsteps of Jack the Ripper. Visitors are even allowed to bring pets on the latter.
The expansion of mass tourism encourages travel organizers to seek new, unique experiences, including those that at first glance do not seem “touristic.” The popularity of dark tourism is also boosted by the fact that crime and criminology occupy an increasing place in popular culture.
Following the traces of the Civil War in Spain
Spain, one of the most visited countries in the world, has also become a destination for dark tourism. Specialized blogs present routes related to the Spanish Civil War.
Among the best-known places is Guernica – a Basque town bombed by German aviation during the civil war. Travelers are also drawn to the old town of Belchite in Aragon, whose ruins still remind of the battles fought there.
In recent years, there has been an increase in tours to bunkers and key Civil War battle sites. Historical sites related to witchcraft and its persecution, such as the village of Zugarramurdi, are also visited.
This phenomenon can also include tours in some Spanish cities to places associated with political and urban planning corruption, although such routes are more focused on civic activism.
Where do the victims fit in this tourism?
Dark tourism is often promoted to strengthen the local economy. Historical memory sites can also raise public awareness and help better understand past events.
However, this phenomenon also poses serious challenges. Many such places were created as spaces for remembrance, mourning, and healing, not as tourist attractions. Therefore, there is a risk that a large flow of visitors and an entertainment approach will diminish their true purpose. This is especially evident when people take selfies at Auschwitz or other sites commemorating tragedies.
Dark tourism must be developed ethically.
Such sites often embody a heritage that is uncomfortable and controversially viewed by society. Presenting it to visitors requires complex decisions. One such example is the Valley of the Fallen in Spain, a huge mausoleum complex where the dictator Francisco Franco was previously buried.
Equally important is to respect the memory of the victims and assess how tourist flows affect people still living in areas associated with crimes or violence. It is especially problematic when products and experiences offered to tourists can justify or even glorify criminals.
Therefore, according to J. Gracia Ibáñez, dark tourism must be developed ethically: visitors must be provided with the context of events, respect the victims, and avoid causing additional pain to their relatives. Responsibly organized trips can encourage learning more and reflecting on painful events that have marked society.
French criminologist Alexandre Lacassagne said that every society has the criminals it deserves. Following this logic, every society also has the kind of dark tourism that reflects its priorities.
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