Dark Tourism: can you have a Hierarchy of Tragedy ?

As those developing the notion of Dark Tourism seek to establish it as a paradigm and to differentiate it from mainstream Tourism, a sharp debate has arisen as to the efficacy of both traditional Tourism models and those being proposed by Dark Tourism advocates. This paper seeks to explore that debate, further, by addressing the tourist experiences generated. Drawing on both traditional Tourism models and emerging Dark Tourism models, the paper will ask the audience to re-evaluate their perceptions of likely tourist experiences at a number of Dark Tourism sites. The paper will use counterpoints [e.g. the first and third Manhattan bombings] and contrasts between mainstream sites [e.g. war memorials and concentration camps] and lesser known sites [such as the Frongoch camp, or the Buschmannshof] to highlight the diversity and complexity of experiences that must be dealt with. Moreover, sites that don?t seem mired in controversy [such as the waterfronts of Ostend and Liverpool] will be shown to be deeply involved and, so, requiring cogent management of the tourist experience. The paper will use the examples and draw upon the current debate to focus the audience?s attention to the critical factors that will be at the heart of the models and approaches adopted in the coming years.