In Mexico there is a new trend on tourist attractions: DARK TOURISM.
“Dark tourism is a different type of tourist attraction. It is the act of travel and visitation to sites of death, disaster and the seemingly macabre. Tourists flock to experience sites of past terror that offer up grim and disturbing tragedies.” citypaper.ee
Zapatista Women - fighters- in Chiapas, South of Mexico.
Picture taken from libcom.org
Apart from the beautiful caribbean beaches or the Aztec and Mayan ruins that foreigners associate with Mexico, tourists can find different attractions in the country such as going through Tepito (one of the most dangerous zones in Mexico City), visiting rebel groups like the Zapatistas in the south of the country or becoming an “illegal immigrant”, crossing a fake border "to the USA" inside a park.
But why is dark tourism so attractive for tourists? Is it because they experience a REAL part of the country they are visiting?
According to Mexican newspaper informador.com.mx there is a park in the state of Hidalgo, where visitors go on the weekends in order to experience "hunger and thirst", the same as illegal immigrants do when they cross the border between Mexico and the United States.
Another site, mexico-sun.com, refers to the park as:
"Park guides say about 3,000 tourists — mostly Mexican — have hiked the caminata since it began in July 2004. It costs 200 pesos (about $18 at 11 pesos to the dollar), and tourists who want to stick around at the park can also go river-rafting, rappel down a cliff and sleep in cabins with roofs of maguey leaves. But guides say the mock border-crossing is the park’s main draw."
Illegal border crossing between the US and Mexico became a popular attraction.
Picture taken from menwithfoilhats.com
Some people affirm that with this type of tourism, people become more sensitive and aware about social issues that locals in Mexico go through every day. Some others say that this is not an accurate thing to do, as people will never get the exact feeling of what is going on, and they will see it as "an easy thing to do".
People are taking advantage - getting money - from these type of "adventures", where they mock of social realities from different countries in the world.
Wait. Are they making fun of local problems? Or are they trying to raise an external conciousness about these issues?
Is dark tourism something you would try? Or at least support?
TH!NK ABOUT IT!
(Andrea Arzaba, August 2010)
Hello Andrea,
The question can be raised if dark-side-tourism is so popular.
From July 2004 till July 2010, three thousand people visited the Hidalgo park. That is 500 people per year, or a bit more than one per day. Something that can hardly be described as ‘attractive’ or ‘popular’.
yes, for example my friends who were in Nepal often remember visits in the maoist rebel villages. According to my friends because maoists are communist they were very positively reacting on tourists from the eastern block (polish, czechs etc.) even if it was almost 20 years after communism collapsed in the Central Europe. I think that problem is not in the rebel groups - they just want to express to the world they opinion and they want to earn money. Problem are tourists who are going there…
Very interesting post Andrea. This is the first time I’ve heard about it…How are the people (locals) reacting to it?
This is the first time I hear about it too Andrea. Very interesting. I think there are people who don’t like to do the usual tourist activities and they want to experience something different, maybe more extreme, and so on. This dark tourism is a good alternative maybe. I am not sure if it raises awareness or it just offers some thrills to some bored tourists. I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s a bad thing.
I wouldn’t always label visiting places associated with death with ‘dark tourism’. I do believe visiting places like The Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre, Auschwitz or a church in Nyamata in Rwanda is an important experience that is there to remind us of tragedies that humanity was capable of during the course of the centuries. We need to say ‘never again’ and get lessons for ourselves and for the future generations.
Eek. Woulnd’t go. Prefer enchiladas and marriachis i’m afraid….
@Johan: Indeed. This is an example where this attraction might not be as popular as others, in different places around the world such as: Chernobyl in Ukraine, Ground Zero in NYC or different cities destroyed by war
@Iwona: So you are against dark tourism?? Why??
The thing I’m afraid of is that homo nonsapiens will not get the message, again, or rather will “get” the message that hasn’t been sent. I mean, tourists exposing themselves to the misfortunes of, say, migrants, from the safety of their documented existence, might as well start believing that it ain’t that difficult, and actually quite funny! That’s the danger.
On the other hand, here is a positive account on a similar issue to the one you discuss here, Andrea, poverty tourism: http://humanrights.change.org/blog/view/poverty_tourism_immoral_or_illuminating
@ Iris: I could not find an answer from a local online. Probably it would be a good idea to ask them personally. I guess If they get money, then they are not against it but maybe some others do feel invaded?
@ Helena: I think you are right. Probably we should make a distinction between places that are experience remind us of the past, and places where people just go and “observe” the locals, just “for fun”.
@ Hieke: Hahah I love enchiladas too
Andrea, as you guessed my anwser is here http://development.thinkaboutit.eu/think3/post/g/
@ Giedre:That’s a good article. I know some friends who have had similar experiences and they def. learn more than other tourists, who just “lay on a beach for days”
@ Iwona: Great article! Thanks!!
Maybe these same tourists should think of coming to Africa. We could certainly entertain them with the “dark side” of life.
@Tony, slum tourism is also popular nowadays, as well. Safari is not enought for people now.
@Iwona,
Unless I am completely wrong, but it looks like Tony made a racial remark. Just so you know.
What is it about morbid fascination that attracts people. As I get older, I just want to experience good things. How does one go about helping the situation? I feel powerless
No racial remark intended. Apologies if it came across that way.
@Tony,
I am sorry Tony for thinking that way. But I just know too many people that would say it that way and would mean it in a racial way.
Thanks for letting us know!
Where are you guys from. Are we all South Africans or what? I am new to this electronic communications.
We are mostly form Europe, but for exemple the author of this post comes from Mexico. I’m from Poland. How did you get to know about think3?
I stumbled upon it quite by accident. I was looking for a way that I could volunteer to assist in either Mozambique or Angola. I spent time in the army from mid 70’s to mid 80’s and I am going on early retirement from the organisation that I work for. I will have some time on my hands and thought I could give something back.
Very interesting, Andreita. Thanks for sharing this!