It’s not all dark!

Abstract

This chapter explores the emotive experience of residents when visiting post-disaster dark tourism sites. Dark tourism sites refers to sites associated with death and suffering and are considered a must see attraction by tourists. It presents tourism in a post-disaster context, followed by theoretical perspectives on dark tourism and emotions, with a particular emphasis on coping strategies. The coping behaviour of avoidance is related to attempts by the individual to create psychic or physical distance between oneself and the stressful experience. The function of dark tourism sites for residents goes beyond commemoration of the event, given that such sites seem to allow residents to contemplate life, deal with emotions, and build personal resilience. The chapter outlines positive and negative emotions elicited at dark sites in Christchurch. Beyond the negative emotions of sadness and grief, dark tourism sites emerging from disasters can elicit positive emotions such as hope, gratitude and thankfulness.