Disaster tourism

Disaster tourism- Dark tourism- Ethics

1. DISASTER TOURISM Dr Akhila K Chandran Research Ethics Scholar Centre for Ethics Yenepoya Deemed to be University https://images.app.goo.gl/E8FsDoPhfVcaiiua6

2. Route Map Introduction Dark tourism- Synonym, definition, categories Disaster tourism- definition Reasons for disaster tourism Popular disaster sites Dark Tourism: Gruesome destinations in India Offensive or inappropriate behaviours Push factors & Pull factors Problems in disaster tourism The negative impacts of disaster tourism Main 3 ethical frameworks Tourism-related Codes of Ethics Summary of the guidelines Conclusion 

3. Introduction Many disasters not only involve tourists, but also attract tourists, with the disaster situations and their commemorations leading to “disaster tourism” Disaster tourism can have positive and negative impacts, often simultaneously

4. Dark tourism Synonym: Black tourism, Thanatourism or Grief tourism Definition: John Lennon and Malcolm Foley -  “The representation of inhuman acts, and how these are interpreted for visitors”. Kevin Fox Gotham - “The circulation of people to places characterized by distress, atrocity, or sadness and pain.” Categories: Grave tourism Holocaust tourism   genocide tourism prison and persecution site tourism communism tourism cult-of-personality tourism    Cold War & Iron Curtain tourism nuclear tourism disaster area tourism   Icky medical tourism https://www.dark-tourism.com/index.php/destinations/categories

5. Disaster tourism Wright And Sharpley- “A practice of visiting locations at which an environmental disaster, either natural or man-made has occurred”. Kevin Fox Gotham- “Disaster tourism” denotes situations where the tourism product is generated within, and from, the aftermath of a major disaster or traumatic event”. https://tourismteacher.com/disaster-tourism-what-why-and-where/

6. R easons for undertaking disaster tourism Pirveli (2008) by authors Dorota Rucińska and Maciej Lechowicz Motivations for disaster tourism Specific motivations for disaster tourism Need to change location Space and time compression. Recreational needs Individual preferences. Cognitive needs Global interest in the world. Need for human contact Contact with people harmed by natural disasters. Need for new experiences Experiencing emotions. General social needs Expansion of social awareness. Additional tourism conditions Economic status, need to aid others.

7. Few popular disaster tourism sites Chernobyl power plant Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Bikini Atoll Nuclear Test Site Hurricane Katrina Pompeii https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/environment/g1288/8-disaster-tourism-sites/

8. Photos From the 1986 Chernobyl Disaster Chernobyl disaster- Chernobyl powerplant https://images.app.goo.gl/MPjTacTujWBeuFDfA https://images.app.goo.gl/7QDVpjd3kuhv2qnR9

9. https://images.app.goo.gl/JFFZkEC1E7pE6fJYA March 24, 1989: Valdez Spill Causes Environmental Catastrophe https://images.app.goo.gl/Bj6xCbTadFVYjbWRA

10. Bikini Atoll Nuclear Test Site https://images.app.goo.gl/KBW1NNx6XS2Rrn6B6 https://images.app.goo.gl/bJRTuPmz9Vi5JxV4A

11. Hurricane Katrina https://images.app.goo.gl/uYviqUderguDZVXJ8 https://images.app.goo.gl/dofGwsdnyJdWo6RbA

12. Pompeii https://images.app.goo.gl/vrgR3BooruQtXrJt8 https://images.app.goo.gl/NhZyWiMay7xLMvHE7 https://images.app.goo.gl/uwhKqUdVp1oDCS1A8 A rchaeological site in southern Italy’s Campania region, near the coast of the Bay of Naples.

13. Dark Tourism: Gruesome destinations in India Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar. Jallianwala bagh . Kala Pani , Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Roopkund , Uttarakhand. Skeletal remains at Roopkund lake. Taj Mahal, Agra. Taj Mahal. Kuldhara Village, Rajasthan. Kuldhara village. Union Carbide subsidiary plant, Bhopal. Bhopal Gas Tragedy. https://www.indiatvnews.com/lifestyle/travel-gruesome-indian-destinations-that-will-give-you-nightmares-in-your-sleep-549161

14. Offensive or inappropriate behaviours Photographing people in moments of sorrow Smiling and laughing around those experiencing hardship Treating people as if they are museum exhibits Making inappropriate remarks Wearing disrespectful clothes Using inappropriate language Committing to disaster tourism for personal gain (e.g. personal satisfaction, to enhance CV etc) Making money from others’ hardships Talking loudly about unrelated issues Showing general signs of disrespect

15. Yuill, Stephanie Marie. 2003. Dark Tourism: Understanding Visitor Motivation at Sites of Death and Disaster, Master’s Thesis. College Station, TX: Texas A&M University. Push factors & Pull factors Dominant push factors : Interest in heritage and history that incorporates understanding one’s identity; guilt (encompassing survivor’s guilt); shame (including being part of the group which might be implicated in having caused the disaster); seeking novelty; and nostalgia. Main pull factors : Education, remembrance, and sacralizing the disaster-related site, events, or objects—meaning that society labels an event, site, or object as important, thereby drawing in visitors.

16. Problems in disaster tourism I nherent conflict between the terms ‘disaster’ and ‘tourism’. Poor tourist behaviour Lack of respect towards the local community and its peoples. Tourists may also be a hindrance instead of a help. They may get in the way of lifesaving efforts or put themselves in unnecessary danger. Tourists may also use up resources which should be prioritised for those in need, such as food and water.

17. The negative impacts of disaster tourism Immediate post-impact phase (focused on response):  – Interfering with disaster-related activities such as rescues and recoveries.  – Competing for resources with disaster-affected locals and disaster-related personnel.  – Causing physical damage.   Both the immediate and the long-term post-impact phases (covering response and recovery):  – Endangering people.  – Revenues not staying locally.  – Interfering with criminal investigations.  – Causing psychological harm. Kelman I, Dodds R. Developing a code of ethics for disaster tourism. International Journal of Mass Emergencies and Disasters. 2009 Nov;27(3):272-96.

18. So, is it really ethical to visit sites of sorrow?   Or   T o photograph people who are in moments of grief?

19. Main 3 ethical frameworks: Kelman I, Dodds R. Developing a code of ethics for disaster tourism. International Journal of Mass Emergencies and Disasters. 2009 Nov;27(3):272-96.

20. Do no harm:  Means assessing the possible outcomes from actions taken and avoiding any harm. That must include possible harm from inaction, which in this case would be avoiding disaster tourism.  Fox (2001)  examines some limitations of the “do no harm” ethic, noting that it cannot apply to all dimensions of disasters. Kelman I, Dodds R. Developing a code of ethics for disaster tourism. International Journal of Mass Emergencies and Disasters. 2009 Nov;27(3):272-96.

21. 2. Risk/benefit analysis: Used in evaluating the ethics of research protocols, including for disaster and tourism research. These analyses attempt to Ensure that any risks taken are justified in comparison to the expected benefits. Determine that all risks are managed and mitigated as much as feasible. One drawback with risk/benefit analyses for disaster work is that social trust of the authorities by the public affects risk/benefit perception and can limit acceptance and applicability of the analysis (Siegrist and Cvetkovich 2000). Siegrist, Michael and George Cvetkovich . 2000. “Perception of Hazards: The Role of Social Trust and Knowledge”. Risk Analysis 20(5): 713-720.

22. 3. Utilitarianism: It refers to the greatest happiness or good for the greatest number or trying to maximize total benefit. McNamee, Sheridan, and Buswell (2001) critique utilitarianism for leisure activities, which equally applies to tourism. Hartman (2003) discusses the challenging ethics of utilitarianism for triage, an important part of disaster response. Kelman I, Dodds R. Developing a code of ethics for disaster tourism. International Journal of Mass Emergencies and Disasters. 2009 Nov;27(3):272-96.

23. Tourism-related Codes of Ethics UN World Tourism Organization (2001) developed “ the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism” that outlined needed and useful principles, although few apply directly to disasters. UNWTO 2001, p. 4- “tourism activities should be conducted in harmony with the attributes and traditions of the host regions and countries” In the article “ Kelman : Disaster Ethics Developing a Code of Ethics for Disaster Tourism ” , he proposed 4 guidelines after a thorough discussion from a vast literature. They are Safety Risk imposition Authorities and rules Donation Kelman I, Dodds R. Developing a code of ethics for disaster tourism. International Journal of Mass Emergencies and Disasters. 2009 Nov;27(3):272-96.

24. Kelman I, Dodds R. Developing a code of ethics for disaster tourism. International Journal of Mass Emergencies and Disasters. 2009 Nov;27(3):272-96. Summary of Guidelines The first proposal for a Code of Ethics for Disaster Tourism comprises the following guidelines. Priority in disasters should be given to the safety of disaster-affected people and responders, encompassing rescue and body recovery operations. One individual should not put another individual at increased risk without consent. The authorities in a disaster-affected area and their rules and regulations should be obeyed within reason. Any donations or assistance offered to disaster-affected areas should be considered within the local context and should also involve nearby but non disaster-affected communities.

25. Conclusion Discussion on ethical issues of disaster tourism is limited. Based on existing disaster and tourism codes, four guidelines are suggested for disaster tourism by Kelman. There should be consultative processes to further develop and implement the code. And these process should include continuing research to ensure that the code would not result in more problems than it solves.