The Allure of Dark Tourism

Dark tourism attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors annually to sites steeped in death and disaster, such as the Catacombs of Paris, which serve as burial grounds for over 6 million people. This phenomenon stems from a morbid fascination with places that offer insights into human history and the complexity of our experiences, from cemeteries to battlefields. The podcast highlights the example of the Chernobyl exclusion zone, which saw tourist numbers peak after the HBO series dramatizing the nuclear disaster, illustrating how media can renew interest in such sites. While some view these visits as respectful memorials, they also elicit a mix of fear and excitement, drawing individuals who seek thrills in confronting danger and death.