Auschwitz Dark tourism
Abstract
The purpose of this report is to critically discuss the development and management of Auschwitz as a Thanatourism site. An exploration of the history of the site will be carried out as well evaluating the explanations as to what motivates them in visiting a site linked to tragedy and death. Management issues will also be critically evaluated and identified as well as setting out recommendations in meeting the issues in regards to the authenticity and commoditization of the Thanatourism site.
Introduction
Thanatourism otherwise known as Dark tourism has found its place in the tourism sector. Though it has emerged as an academic field of study and particularly standing as a growing niche tourism product, there has been absence of realistic research (Seaton, 2012), clearness and agreement about definition and purpose of it, (Dunkley, Morgan and Westwood, 2011). Nevertheless, Stone, P (2012) defines dark tourism as social filter between life and death and a mediating institution providing a physical place to link the living a dead whereas (Sharpley and Stone 2009) defines it as ‘visitation to places where tragedies or historically noteworthy death has occurred and that continue to impact lives. Concentrating on Auschwitz- Birkenau death camp, the epitome of dark tourism, current study sheds light in how this nature of tourism experience has simplified relationships between the emblematic meanings allotted to dark tourism sites and important practicalities as to what motivates a tourist to sought such experience, (Avital et al 2011).
History of Auschwitz
Rees, L 2013, describes Auschwitz as a place with a surprising history as it was not built to exterminate Jews but built first and foremost as a site of oppression to imprison mainly political Poles or anyone the Nazi’s considered as a threat. The Germans established it in 1940 in Oswiecim, (later named Auschwitz) a city in Poland that was commandeered to the Third Reich by the Nazi’s. Auschwitz Org (2014)
The purpose of this report is to critically discuss the development and management of Auschwitz as a Thanatourism site. An exploration of the history of the site will be carried out as well evaluating the explanations as to what motivates them in visiting a site linked to tragedy and death. Management issues will also be critically evaluated and identified as well as setting out recommendations in meeting the issues in regards to the authenticity and commoditization of the Thanatourism site.
Introduction
Thanatourism otherwise known as Dark tourism has found its place in the tourism sector. Though it has emerged as an academic field of study and particularly standing as a growing niche tourism product, there has been absence of realistic research (Seaton, 2012), clearness and agreement about definition and purpose of it, (Dunkley, Morgan and Westwood, 2011). Nevertheless, Stone, P (2012) defines dark tourism as social filter between life and death and a mediating institution providing a physical place to link the living a dead whereas (Sharpley and Stone 2009) defines it as ‘visitation to places where tragedies or historically noteworthy death has occurred and that continue to impact lives. Concentrating on Auschwitz- Birkenau death camp, the epitome of dark tourism, current study sheds light in how this nature of tourism experience has simplified relationships between the emblematic meanings allotted to dark tourism sites and important practicalities as to what motivates a tourist to sought such experience, (Avital et al 2011).
History of Auschwitz
Rees, L 2013, describes Auschwitz as a place with a surprising history as it was not built to exterminate Jews but built first and foremost as a site of oppression to imprison mainly political Poles or anyone the Nazi’s considered as a threat. The Germans established it in 1940 in Oswiecim, (later named Auschwitz) a city in Poland that was commandeered to the Third Reich by the Nazi’s. Auschwitz Org (2014)