Journeying into the past to discover the potential for WWII dark tourism in the Solomon Islands

Abstract

ABSTRACT Battlefields have long been a source of interest for military enthusiasts, historians, veterans, and their descendants, inquisitive tourists, and the local community. Recently, this form of dark tourism has gained increasing attention as sites associated with death, disaster and atrocity have been a source of economic development as well as a historical reminder of death and sacrifice and the importance of a future of peace and hope. This study explores the potential for developing dark tourism around the Battle of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. Using a mixed-method approach, the study finds tourists experience a range of both positive and negative emotions when visiting these sites. This paper makes a theoretical contribution to the study of dark tourism using Plutchik’s theory of eight primary emotions to reveal how tourists experience the dark tourism sites while, on the supply side, critically evaluate how the local community and tourism stakeholders negotiate and navigate offering these dark tourism experiences as part of their tourism development, in a developing country context. Managerial implications are discussed concerning what local stakeholders can do to collaborate to offer a memorable dark tourism experience.