Disaster Tourism
Disaster tourism refers to the practice of visiting locations that have undergone significant tragedies or loss of life, whether from natural disasters like hurricanes and earthquakes or man-made catastrophes such as nuclear accidents. This phenomenon gained traction in the 19th century, with early examples including visits to sites like the Willey House landslide in New Hampshire. Over time, it has evolved into a notable aspect of the tourism industry, attracting visitors to locations like the 9/11 Memorial in New York, Hurricane Katrina's New Orleans, and the Chernobyl exclusion zone in Ukraine.
While disaster tourism can provide economic support to affected communities and promote awareness of their struggles, it also faces criticism for potentially exploiting human suffering. Many local residents may feel uncomfortable with the influx of tourists, viewing it as a form of voyeurism. In some cases, efforts have been made to balance this tourism with sensitivity, such as guided tours that also contribute to local charities. The psychology behind disaster tourism often involves visitors seeking to understand and process tragedy, which can serve as an educational experience and a way to honor those impacted by such events.
Subject Terms
Disaster Tourism
Disaster tourism is the practice of travelling to sites that have experienced or are associated with a tragedy or loss of life. Disasters that attract tourist attention can be natural or man-made, and range from the site of the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear power plant explosion in Ukraine to weather-ravaged American cities such as New Orleans and Joplin, Missouri. Despite receiving some criticism, such tourism is often welcomed by communities affected by disaster as a way to bring attention to their plight and provide much-needed economic aid.
History and Popular Sites
Tourism has been around at least since the time of the ancient Romans when wealthy citizens of the empire would travel to the countryside or the coast as a form of relaxation. The idea of visiting the site of a tragedy as a form of tourism is a practice that first appeared in the nineteenth century. One of the earliest known examples was associated with the Willey House landslide that occurred on August 28, 1826, in Crawford Notch, New Hampshire. After a storm dumped heavy rain on the area, an avalanche of debris broke loose from a nearby mountain and headed toward the Willey family's house. The family of seven and two hired hands fled the structure to a place of presumed safety, only to be killed by the landslide while the house remained untouched. The story became popular at the time, and tourists began to visit the site of the tragedy. In May 1889, a massive flood swept through Johnstown, Pennsylvania, leaving more than two thousand people dead. The disaster captivated the American public and led to an influx of visitors curious to see the devastation.
As the news media grew and accounts of tragedies disseminated more widely, disaster tourism became more popular. By the twenty-first century, it had grown into a lucrative business with some companies offering travel packages exclusively to disaster area cities or regions associated with catastrophe. Among the most popular destinations are the following:
9/11 Memorial, New York: More than twenty-seven hundred people died on September 11, 2001, when terrorists crashed two hijacked planes into the twin towers of the World Trade Center. Visitors began flocking to the area soon after the tragedy. Since the 9/11 Memorial opened in 2011, more than seventy-two million people have visited the site.
New Orleans: In 2005, Hurricane Katrina slammed into the Gulf Coast, destroying the levees protecting New Orleans. An estimated eighteen hundred people were killed in the ensuing flooding. Over a decade later, companies routinely offer "Post-Katrina Tours" of the rebuilding city.
Chernobyl: On April 26, 1986, a reactor at the Chernobyl nuclear plant in the former Soviet Union exploded, contaminating the surrounding area with deadly radioactive material. More than 350,000 people were hurriedly evacuated and thousands are estimated to have died from the long-term effects of the disaster. More than a quarter of a century later, the radiation levels have dropped enough to allow a Ukrainian travel company to offer guided tours of the "exclusion zone" around the plant.
Nuclear test sites: During the early years of the Cold War (1947–1991), the United States routinely detonated nuclear weapons at test sites in the Nevada desert and the South Pacific. Despite some lingering radioactive contamination, the Nevada National Security Site and Bikini Atoll are open to tourists on a limited basis.
Pompeii: An eruption of Italy's Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE buried the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum under tons of scorching ash and pumice. Ironically, the same volcanic forces that destroyed the towns also helped preserve them, creating a valuable archeological site and a popular tourist attraction. In the twenty-first century, Vesuvius National Park receives more than two million visitors annually.
Hiroshima: The atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the United States helped to end World War II, but devastated the country of Japan and the two cities. Hiroshima estimated that one hundred and forty thousand people died, with more affected by the lingering radioactive material. The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum displays the realities of the bombs effects and attracts more than 1.7 million visitors annually.
Justification and Psychology
The idea of disaster tourism has met with criticism from people who see it as heartless exploitation of tragedy. Some residents of New Orleans have expressed resentment of the tour buses that drive through the city in the years after Katrina. In 2012, New Orleans was forced to limit the number of bus tours in response to complaints and damage being done to the city's streets. Tour operators, however, see the excursions as a necessary means of revitalizing New Orleans' damaged tourism industry and bringing in much-needed revenue. Some tours even donate a portion of their ticket sales to local charities.
A similar dilemma was faced by residents of Joplin, Missouri, a town devastated by a May 2011 tornado that leveled forty-five hundred homes and killed 158 people. In the wake of the tragedy, tourists began arriving to witness the destruction. In response, town officials created a tourist map detailing sites destroyed by the tornado. While the map was condemned by some as capitalizing on the disaster, officials say it was a way to educate people about Joplin's history and bring business to the town.
While visiting the site of human misery may seem like a voyeuristic act, psychologists say most people who seek out such experiences are drawn by a need to understand the tragedy and grieve along with those affected. The trip is often a form of education for the visitor and a way to find closure for what is a national tragedy as well as a local one.
Bibliography
Curry, Colleen. "Joplin, New Orleans Benefit from 'Disaster Tourism.'" ABCNews.com, 19 Jan. 2012, abcnews.go.com/US/disaster-tourism-booms-hurricanes-tornados/story?id=15389166. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.
“Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Atomic Bomb Dome).” Japan, www.japan.travel/en/spot/2202/. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.
Kiniry, Laura. "8 Disaster Tourism Sites." Popular Mechanics, 30 Aug. 2013, www.popularmechanics.com/science/environment/g1288/8-disaster-tourism-sites/. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.
Landsel, David. "7 Sites for Disaster Tourism." FoxNews.com, 11 June 2013, www.foxnews.com/travel/2013/06/11/7-sites-for-disaster-tourism/. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.
Murray, Meghan Miner. “Rocked by Natural Disasters, These Destinations Are Now Ready for Tourists.” National Geographic, 5 Feb. 2018, www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/natural-disaster-impact-destinations. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.
Rayworth, Melissa. "'Disaster Tourism' Industry Spends Big to Pretend Human Misery Is Fun." Takepart.com, 16 Jan. 2014, www.takepart.com.s3-website-us-east-1.amazonaws.com/article/2014/01/16/outrageous-misery-simulators/. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.
"Willey House Landslide, Crawford Notch, New Hampshire, and Its Cultural Impact." The Geological Society of America, gsa.confex.com/gsa/2013NE/webprogram/Paper214675.html. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.