Dark Tourism: The $32.8 Billion Industry Built Around Death and Tragedy

Dark tourism refers to travel to sites associated with death, tragedy, and suffering, and has grown into a $32.8 billion global industry. The term was formally coined by researchers John Lennon and Malcolm Foley to describe this niche but expanding form of travel. Visitors to such sites often engage in behaviors like taking selfies at murder scenes or disaster locations. The phenomenon raises ethical questions about the commercialization of human suffering and historical trauma. Despite the controversy, dark tourism continues to attract millions of travelers worldwide each year.