Is “dark tourism” ethical?

May 10

Ah, traveling! Vacation! Holiday! Whatever you call it, there’s no denying that nearly everyone enjoys a good trip, at least every now and again; I certainly do. What’s not to like? Maybe you’re soaking up the sun at the beach, trying new foods and drinks, or…visiting the site of the Nazi book burnings?

It’s been dubbed “dark tourism,” and it’s an entire industry of visiting places “historically associated with death and tragedy.” Whether it’s visiting Hiroshima Memorial Peace Park or 9/11 Ground Zero or going on a Jack the Ripper tour in Whitechapel or a Troubles black cab tour in Belfast, I’ve visited my share of “dark tourism” spots. What compels people (see: me) to visit sites with dark, brutal, and often deadly histories? Is it ethical to visit these sites at all?

I have visited some mourning sites and plan to visit Auschwitz in a few days, so I am obviously not going to say that there is no ethical way to visit these places. But I also am not an expert, nor do I have any authority over telling you whether it is ethical or not. I do believe unequivocally that there are definitely unethical ways to visit these places, however.

Lonely Planet’s article “The 15 best things to do in Kraków” lists a visit to Auschwitz as number 3. Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial had to issue a warning to tourists taking selfies to please “respect [the] memory” of the people murdered there. There have been instances of tourists being fined for doing a Nazi salute outside of Auschwitz or arrested for stealing “souvenirs” from the death camp.

These are obvious instances of being unethical and often immoral visitors, and it is instances like these that, I think, put up the best case for all visits to sensitive and mournful sites as being unethical. But the majority of visitors to sites like these, I think, recognize the importance of the site and act as respectfully as possible.

The entirely different question about ethics regarding “dark tourism” is about the actual practice of tourism itself. There are entire companies who run regular tours for a half day at Auschwitz followed by a half day at the nearby Wieliczka Salt Mine, often including lunch and pick up from your hotel. Many people’s entire jobs revolve around catering to tourists and making their experiences of these sites more “convenient.” This, I believe, is where we get into really murky water. If you are planning to visit with a tour company, I think it is vital to do extensive research about the company, its practices, its reviews, and ways in which is respects (or does not respect) the places it’s taking you to. I think it is so important to try to minimize any damage you cause to the area as a tourist, and it’s also important to me to try and figure out how these practices are viewed by local residents/what they would prefer you do instead.

In fact, it seems like many Polish people find these tourism practices in poor taste. There’s a contemporary art piece dedicated to pointing this out: “AUSCHWITZWIELICZKA,” which combines “Auschwitz” and “Wieliczka Salt Mine,” highlights the irony of combining these two “trips” into a full day tour, treating Auschwitz as a checklist spot rather than a place of mourning and reflection.

I don’t really have a solution or even a deeper point - I don’t know where the line between ethical and unethical tourism is at all, let alone regarding “dark tourism.” Much like murder podcasts, true crime documentaries, escape rooms, and countless other contemporary experiences, “dark tourism” is obviously turning harrowing places into something people consume.

For me, I think it is all about intention. Does this experience disrespect victims? How are you going to be respectful while you’re visiting? How can you do all you can to ensure that your visit does not disrespect the site or those who suffered there? These are essential questions that I ask myself whenever I visit sites like these, and they’re the only answer I have so far to this ever-pressing ethics question.