Studies of “dark tourism,” or the practice of traveling to locations associated with morbid topics like death, tragedy, or bad luck, have primarily been conducted from the traveler’s point of view. In contrast, the focus of 2021 research published in the Journal of Travel Research by Evan J. Jordan and Girish Prayag is on the people whose lives are touched by these landmarks. This research examines the people’s emotional reactions to tourist spots recognized for their melancholy in light of the terrible Canterbury earthquakes that rocked Christchurch, New Zealand. The critical analysis aims to examine the author’s work in terms of its technique, influence on the sphere of dark tourism, and rigorous scrutiny.
The research stands noteworthy due to the application of Cognitive Appraisal Theory (CAT), a psychological framework that investigates people’s emotional and cognitive reactions to major external happenings. Because of its focus on encounters that evoke strong feelings, this theoretical approach is beneficial for studying “dark tourism.” According to Jordan & Prayag (2021), CAT may provide a comprehensive picture of how a person or group feels, especially in a reflective or melancholy setting.
Jordan and Prayag’s research technique included in-depth interviews with 37 locals in the Christchurch region. The authors’ detailed data collection and analysis complement the qualitative approach’s rich, in-depth picture of the participants’ unique and emotional experiences. However, the results of qualitative research may be less transferable if purposive or snowball sampling methods are used. However, the large amount of qualitative information collected helps compensate for this shortcoming.
One of the most interesting findings is the wide variety of emotions felt by the residents. They range from good emotions like gratitude and optimism to negative ones like despair, helplessness, and rage. The potential for adverse effects of tourism to sites associated with individual and community sorrow is emphasized with this emotional subtlety. This research highlights the group dynamics of these emotional experiences to shed light on how a community deals with and recovers from a tragedy.
The study’s insights into residents’ coping methods are crucial for comprehending how communities deal with collective trauma. The authors found that residents relied primarily on emotional coping strategies, such as encouraging self-talk and contacting friends and family for support. Surprisingly, studies show that visiting depressing tourist destinations might help residents deal with their feelings over recent disasters (Jordan & Prayag, 2021). As a consequence of this finding, we understand more about how dark tourism contributes to community resilience and post-disaster rehabilitation.
Among the most consequential implications of this research is the need to consider the emotional reactions of locals while designing scary tourist attractions. Results highlight the need for a more considerate and community-oriented approach to developing and maintaining such facilities. The paper also highlights the necessity of instituting measures that improve the wellness of persons affected by the construction of dark tourism sites, such as community participation projects or psychological support networks.
Critical Evaluation
The focus on residents’ perspectives in settings linked with dark tourism is adequately conveyed in the passages, even without the actual title of the piece being cited. The study’s significant findings and implications are summarized clearly and simply in the abstract, making it an invaluable synopsis (Jordan & Prayag, 2021). The study’s goal is apparent in the introduction, highlighting the need for more research on residents’ emotional reactions in depressing tourist environments.
The emotional experiences of Christchurch, New Zealand, residents after the Canterbury earthquakes are extensively examined in Jordan and Prayag’s research, particularly emphasizing their interactions with eerie tourist destinations. One of the best things about this research is how it uses a psychological framework, namely the Cognitive Appraisal Theory (CAT), to make sense of people’s feelings (Jordan & Prayag, 2021). Even while this focus improves our knowledge of the emotional dynamics of locals, it may be claimed that other sociocultural and economic elements of dark tourism’s influence on people should be more emphasized. The study may have benefited from more research on the socioeconomic impacts on nearby residents, such as changes in property prices and community dynamics. Even though people’s emotional responses are crucial, the study may have devalued their thoughts on the ethical implications of dark tourism, a topic often explored in this sector.
The research offers findings and interpretations based on the collected data, and the data and analysis problems are acceptable. By referencing related works, the authors have placed their study into the larger body of knowledge on psychological responses and scary vacations. Their comments are articulate and show a smooth development of ideas. Given the context, the study’s hypothesis that people’s emotional experiences are essential in terms of dark tourism makes sense.
The study’s findings are clear and convincing. Furthermore, the writers’ data and research conclusions are presented logically and well-organized. Actual quotes from the interviews effectively express the locals’ emotions and experiences, lending credibility to their point of view. Academic audiences and professionals in the tourism business can both grasp the findings since the authors deftly negotiate the complex emotional landscape of their topic.
The study’s methodology is well-developed and provides a clear understanding of the research process in light of the voluminous qualitative data collected via in-depth interviews. However, the study may have benefited from a deeper investigation into the implications of its findings, particularly concerning practical recommendations for managing unsafe tourist hotspots in a way that considers the needs and safety of the local community. A deeper dive into the policy ramifications or the potential for community involvement in managing these sites may have yielded intriguing discoveries. There may have been more flexibility to study other pertinent aspects of the research if the emphasis had been placed less on the theoretical framework.
Exploring how people feel about black tourists is an important aim that helps fill a need in the literature. The qualitative approach is well-suited for investigating intricate emotional occurrences, but its limited sample size may limit its use (Jordan & Prayag, 2021). The research conducts the interviews following ethical norms, with no obvious ethical challenges. The research objectives are aligned with the study’s design and methodology, which provide a comprehensive perspective of the inhabitants’ experiences and feelings. It is assumed in this research that the emotional responses of residents to dark tourism are multifaceted and subtle. This hypothesis, which serves as the basis for their investigation, is supported by the data that has been acquired. Furthermore, a deeper understanding of these emotions will benefit the creation and administration of eerie tourism destinations. This viewpoint is consistent with the rising trend of environmentally and morally conscious travel.
Generally, by concentrating on the psychological toll that the residents of Christchurch, New Zealand, suffered after the 2011 earthquakes, the study by Evan J. Jordan and Girish Prayag, which was published in the Journal of Travel Research, marks a significant change in the field of dark tourism research. The study applies Cognitive Appraisal Theory to provide a perceptive analysis of these individuals’ intricate emotional and coping responses. The qualitative method of the study captures the complex emotions that range from sorrow to optimism, providing a complete picture of the community’s adaptability and resilience in the face of disaster. Even if the study’s focus on psychological factors may have the unintended consequence of downplaying sociocultural and economic implications, our understanding of the more profound effects of dark tourism on the local community has been expanded. The findings underscore the need for more empathetic, resident-centered techniques in managing dark tourism sites, which balance visitors’ needs with those of the local population. This research contributes to the academic discussion while aiding the equitable and moral administration of dark tourism sites by giving valuable insights to community leaders and tourist authorities. Incorporating locals’ experiences and viewpoints into the evolving narrative of dark tourism has reached a significant milestone with this publication.
References
Jordan, E. J., & Prayag, G. (2021). Residents’ Cognitive Appraisals, Emotions, and Coping Strategies at Local Dark Tourism Sites. Journal of Travel Research, 004728752110047. https://doi.org/10.1177/00472875211004761
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