The rise of dark tourism

With Halloween on the horizon, I thought I'd feature something a little bit different this week rather than the usual spooky, haunted house ideas! For those who don't know what dark tourism is, it's visiting destinations usually associated with death and suffering.  It's a trend that is on the rise with British holiday-makers, and data released by Kiwi.com has revealed the top destinations visited by Brits in recent years.

Considered the most disastrous nuclear power plant accident in history, Chernobyl has become an unlikely tourist destination in recent years, as travellers risk being exposed to lethal levels  of radiation in a bid to get a glimpse of the derelict town which has been left untouched since 1986.

Another destination that draws many is Auschwitz, the concentration camp operated by Nazi Germany in occupied Poland during World War II. Having been truly horrified after my own visit to a concentration camp in Germany, I think it's important to understand one of the most disturbing and sad moments in history.

One of the most unexpected dark tourism hotspots to emerge in recent years is the war-torn Iraq. Although the battle against extremists still raging in the region, tourists are still keen to explore the country.  Dark Tourism is a new phenomenon, but with Brits at the forefront of exploration, it's no surprise we are looking to travel to more unusual locations. Have you been to any of these locations or have you discovered a dark tourism location of your own? I'd love to hear about it - so click here to get in touch via my contact page.