Prelims

Half Title Page

Dark Tourism

Series Title Page

Building the Future of Tourism

Series editor: Anukrati Sharma

The world is entering the Third Millennium in which great changes are expected in all areas of human interest, life, and activity. These changes have been brought on by past and present man-made events, which have had both positive and negative consequences. The coming millennium will be marked by significant social, political, demographic, and technological changes and will definitely differ from the last century. The future will bring more leisure time, a higher standard of living, and a better quality of life for us all. This series examines recent and the most probable changes and gives a wide range of visionary insights, as well as operational takeaways.

Title Page

Dark Tourism: Theory, Interpretation and Attraction

Edited by

Anukrati Sharma

University of Kota, India

Shruti Arora

University of Kota, India

And

Parag Shukla

The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, India

United Kingdom – North America – Japan – India – Malaysia – China

Copyright Page

Emerald Publishing Limited

Emerald Publishing, Floor 5, Northspring, 21-23 Wellington Street, Leeds LS1 4DL

First edition 2024

Editorial matter and selection © 2024 Anukrati Sharma, Shruti Arora and Parag Shukla.

Individual chapters © 2024 The authors.

Published under exclusive licence by Emerald Publishing Limited.

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No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without either the prior written permission of the publisher or a licence permitting restricted copying issued in the UK by The Copyright Licensing Agency and in the USA by The Copyright Clearance Center. Any opinions expressed in the chapters are those of the authors. Whilst Emerald makes every effort to ensure the quality and accuracy of its content, Emerald makes no representation implied or otherwise, as to the chapters' suitability and application and disclaims any warranties, express or implied, to their use.

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

ISBN: 978-1-83797-337-8 (Print)

ISBN: 978-1-83797-336-1 (Online)

ISBN: 978-1-83797-338-5 (Epub)

Dedication

To my daughter “Vidushi Choudhary,” who is my heart living outside of my body.

To my son “Samarth Mehta,” whose laughter is my favorite sound.

Last but not the least to our wonderful contributors and readers.

About the Editors

Dr Anukrati Sharma is the Associate Professor of the Department of Commerce and Management at the University of Kota (A State Govt. University) in Kota, Rajasthan, India. She is the Director of the Skill Development Center of the same University. She is also the Dean (Honorary) of Tourism and Hospitality at Vishwakarma Skills University, Jaipur (A Govt. State University). She worked three years as the Head of the Department of Commerce and Management, University of Kota. Her special interest areas are tourism, tourism marketing, strategic management, and international business management. A member of seven professional bodies, she has attended a number of national and international conferences and presented 45 papers. She has been invited as keynote speaker and panel member by different countries such as Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan, South Africa, Nepal, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Turkey. She has been invited as Visiting Professor at Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

Dr Shruti Arora is currently working as Guest Faculty in the Department of Commerce and Management, University of Kota, Kota, Rajasthan, India. She has 16 years of experience in the education industry. Her core subjects are Marketing, General Management, International Business, and Customer Relationship Management. She has attended various international conferences, and her publication includes various chapters in edited books under Routledge, Emerald, and Springer and research papers in national and international UGC-approved and peer-reviewed journals. She has also been appointed as an external and internal examiner for viva voce for graduation and postgraduation students.

Dr Parag Shukla holds a PhD degree in the subject of Commerce and Business Management with focus on Strategic Marketing in the area of “Retailing.” He has been working as an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Commerce at the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda [MSUB], Gujarat, India, since the year 2009. He has presented and published a total number of 90 research papers in different areas of retailing and marketing in various national and international refereed peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings. He has also received accolades for his research papers from various academics.

About the Contributors

Shakil Ahmed is currently studying at Forestry and Wood Technology Discipline of Khulna University, Bangladesh, as a postgraduate student. He intends to pursue a career in wellness and tourism. His passion is to help the local community by ensuring sustainable forest management and nature-based tourism. Participatory forest management, nature-based tourism, and wildlife management are some of his research interests. He enjoys participating in voluntary work and has volunteered for a number of organizations, including Bangladesh Youth Initiative (BYI), Forestry and Wood Technology Club, and Bangladesh Tourism Board.

Mr Terrance Ancheary is a doctoral student of Tourism Management at the Indian Institute of Management, Sirmaur. He navigates the realms of academia, seamlessly blending passion and scholarly rigor. With an insatiable curiosity, he did his Master's of Science in Hospitality Administration from National Council for Hotel Management, Noida. Terrance envisions a future where his insights shape the trajectory of hospitality and tourism, leaving an indelible mark on the industry's sustainable and transformative growth.

Ajoy K. Bhattacharya is a retired Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer of the 1983 batch from Madhya Pradesh cadre has a penchant for forestry, environment, ecotourism, and bamboo. He was the founder and CEO of the Madhya Pradesh Ecotourism Development Mission and Board (first in India). Through his pioneering initiative, MP Forest Department set benchmarks in ecotourism, promoted public private partnership model, and institutionalized bamboo-based entrepreneurship. He is a consultant with TERI, IIFM, and other specialized organizations. Armed with a research degree and a postdoctoral, worked (December 2015 to February 2019) with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India as the Country Head for the Green Highways Program; which ensured greening of the highways across the country. Currently, he is on “Mission Giving Back” and working for special projects including mobilizing youth for “Mission Environment Movement” and supporting many organizations for the cause of environment, entrepreneurship, and green solutions.

Aslı Bendenay Çapa graduated from Anadolu University, Faculty of Tourism, Department of Tour Guiding in 2019. Since then, she has been working as a Professional Tourist Guide under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in Turkey. Between 2019 and 2022, she completed his Master's degree in the field of Tourism Management at Anadolu University Social Sciences Institute with a study on enriching the narratives of tourist guides with geo-literary reading. Since September 2022, she has been continuing her doctorate education at Anadolu University, Institution of Graduate Schools. Her main areas of interest are tourism geography, geo-literary reading, and topics related to tourist guidance.

Michael Clancy is a Professor of Politics at the University of Hartford, Connecticut, USA. His research revolves around the political economy of global tourism. He is the author of two books and the editor of a third. In addition, he has published numerous journal articles and book chapters on tourism and development, international sex tourism, cruise ship tourism, tourism and national identity, slow tourism, and over-tourism.

Ankit Dhiraj, currently working as a Senior Research Fellow at the School of Hotel Management and Tourism, Lovely Professional University, Punjab, India. He has completed his regular three-year Bachelor's degree in Business Management from Magadh University Bodhgaya, Master’s in Tourism Management from Alagappa University Tamilnadu, Master’s in Political Science in Swami Vivekanand Subharti University, Meerut and pursuing PhD in Tourism Management at the School of Hotel Management and Tourism, Lovely Professional University, Punjab, India. He qualified JRF in Tourism Management and NET in Political Science. His area of research interest is Buddhist tourism, wellness tourism, sustainable practices, and green economy. He has experience working with different universities in India as a Business Development Associate. Ankit Dhiraj has also participated in various national and international conferences, seminars, and research workshops. He has published more than 10 research papers in Scopus-indexed, UGC-approved, and peer-reviewed journals.

Freeda Maria Swarna M. has over 15 years of experience in the sustainability, conservation science, environment, communities, and tourism domains. Her strength lies in combining Applied Sciences and the integration of sound research with a robust implementation. As Director, Dharthi NGO was nominated to the Karnataka Ecotourism Development Board as a member of the General Body, where during her three-year tenure, she was instrumental in conducting cumulative impact assessment (CIA) studies, having consultations with stakeholders for a robust ecotourism policy for the State of Karnataka. Freeda is in the process of authoring two books, one on ecotourism, and has published articles and papers to her credit. With a penchant for writing, she is in the process of putting up her blogsite called https://highwaymybeckoning.com which will contain impactful stories of her travels, people, and places. She also runs Dharthi Green Project which focuses on the dynamics of environment and ecology and works with consulting firms that interface the corporates of India. Besides two Master's degrees in Tourism, Environment and Ecology, she also has a research degree.

Dr Ruchi Garg is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Commerce and Management at Nirwan University, Jaipur. She holds an MPhil and PhD in Accountancy and Business Statistics from the Department of ABST, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur. Her academic journey is marked by consistent excellence, maintaining a track record of first-class distinctions. Dr Ruchi is an accomplished Research Scholar with significant contributions to esteemed journals through her published papers and articles.

Iti Gaur is an academician, an author, and a public speaker with 12 years of teaching and 2 years of industrial experience. She has written three books and multiple research papers so far, which touch different areas related to commerce and management. Currently, she is working with Manipal University, Jaipur, India, and apart from her academic journey, she has also anchored multiple talk shows on All India Radio. She tries to find out those academic areas which are not explored by many and therefore would definitely bring a lot of untouched content for her learners in future.

Semra Günay works as a full-time Academician and full-time Professor in the Department of Tourism Management at Anadolu University Faculty of Tourism. She graduated from the Geography Department of Ankara University. She teaches and conducts research on topics such as tourism planning, geographical information systems, gastronomy and tourism, sustainable tourism, nature-based tourism activities, tourism geography, food geography, and urban tourism. She has worked and published in many national and international projects related to tourism. She worked as a Researcher in the Eskişehir Province Language Atlas project supported by TÜBİTAK. She has undertaken the management of many projects such as “Spatial Analysis and Marketing Strategy of Tourism Resources of Eskişehir Province” and “Tourist Guides Designing Tour to Phrygia Region (route design with CBS)” supported by BEBKA (Bursa Eskişehir Bilecik Development Agency).

Max Hart, an Early Career Researcher and Lecturer in Criminology at Birmingham City University, where he has taught since 2021 on a range of topics such as crime and the media, cybercrime, and investigative techniques. Max's research interests are concerned with violence, media, and the impact of technological advancements within capitalist societies.

Rami K. Isaac, born in Palestine. Rami Isaac did his undergraduate studies in the Netherlands, graduate studies in the United Kingdom, and earned his PhD from the University of Groningen, in Spatial Sciences, in the Netherlands. He is currently an Associate Professor in tourism teaching at the undergraduate as well as postgraduate levels at the Academy for Tourism at Breda University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands. In addition, he is An Associate Professor at the Faculty of Tourism and Hotel Management at Bethlehem University, Palestine. Currently, he is the Vice President of the Research Committee 50 on International Tourism, International Sociologist Association ISA (2018–2024). His research interests are in the area of tourism development and management, critical theory, and political aspects of tourism. He published numerous articles and book chapters on tourism and political (in)stability, occupation, tourism and war, dark/heritage tourism, violence, and transformational tourism.

Md. Wasiul Islam is a Professor of Forestry and Wood Technology Discipline of Khulna University, Bangladesh. He has completed his PhD from the Business School (Tourism Cluster) of the University of Queensland, Australia. He completed his MSc in Master of Science in Forest and Nature Conservation (Minor in Leisure, Tourism, and Environment) from the Wageningen University and Research Center, the Netherlands. He also worked in Bangladesh Forest Department where he was involved in several research projects on nature-based tourism and wildlife management. His research interests include participatory protected area management, governance, social learning, nature conservation, and nature-based tourism.

Zhang Jieyao is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Management and Economics, Chuxiong Normal University, China. Her doctorate is from the Taylor's University in Hospitality and Tourism with research on Pro-environmental Behavioral Intention toward Ecotourism in China. She has two postgraduate degrees: Master's in International Hospitality Management from the Taylor's University and Hospitality Management from University of Toulouse, France. Her research areas include natural tourism, ecotourism, and behavioral studies.

Craig Kelly, Lecturer in Criminology at Birmingham City University, where he has taught since 2018, covering topics such as dark leisure and research methods. He has published research in the areas of violence and organized crime. In recent years, he has turned his attention toward the harms of consumerism, editing books on the topics of video games and dark tourism.

Shaheed Khan is academically qualified and armed with postgraduate degrees in History, Tourism, Business Administration, Law, and Research degrees. His focus areas have been Tourism, Mergers and Acquisitions, and Human Resources. He also has a micro-specialization in Strategy Management from the Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode and a Corporate Program in Leadership Management from the Harvard School of Publishing. He brings to the table multiple facets of functioning that supports any area of academics and practice in the corporate world. Having worked in the government, private, and social sectors, Shaheed has a broad understanding of Tourism, Travel, and Hospitality (TTH). Shaheed is the Head, Research and Training, with Dharthi NGO, Bangalore. He is also an Adjunct Faculty with Leading Central and State Universities and Deemed to be Universities and engages in in-class sessions for corporates of India in the domain of Strategy, M&A, Tourism, Design Thinking, and Human Resources. He also engages in training the faculty members of higher education institutions, Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Center (MMTTC) (earlier knowns as UGC-HRDC).

Burhan Kılıç, completed his undergraduate education at Gazi University Faculty of Commerce and Tourism Education, his Master’s degree at Gazi University Institute of Social Sciences, Department of Tourism Management Education, and his doctorate degree at Gazi University Institute of Educational Sciences, Department of Tourism Management Education. In 2023, he became a Professor in the field of tourism. He teaches courses such as tourism marketing, consumer behavior in tourism, food and beverage management, scientific research methods, and has many national and international articles, papers, and books on basic and subcomponents of these topics such as loyalty in tourism, service quality, social media marketing, leisure tourism, and consumer attitudes and behaviors.

Janitha Kularajasingam is a Senior Lecturer in Taylor's University under the School of Management and Marketing. She has nine years of teaching experience. Furthermore, she has industrial experience in large IT organizations in Malaysia. Recently, she obtained Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert 2021–2022. She is a Reviewer in the Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education (Web of Science) (ESCI). Janitha has a postgraduate degree in Management and has published articles in the Journal of Education for Business in Scopus and other high-indexed journals. She has regularly presented several papers at national conferences. She is an active committee member of the ICIE Conference 2019–2023. She was also a conference moderator for the parallel sessions. In addition, she was also actively involved in the Enterprise Project team (Entrepreneurship Eco-System Development and Project Enterprise) at the university. She is a co-supervisor for PhD students and supervises Master's-level students.

Jeetesh Kumar is the Head (a) of Research at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Leisure Management, a Senior Lecturer at the School of Hospitality, Tourism and Events, an Associate Director for Information Management and Documentation at the Centre for Research and Innovation in Tourism (CRiT), and a Hub Leader of the “Responsible Tourism for Inclusive Economic Growth” Sustainable Tourism Impact Lab at Taylor's University, Malaysia. His doctorate is from Taylor's University in Hospitality and Tourism. He has two postgraduate degrees: a Professional Master's in Hospitality Management and International Tourism from the University of Toulouse, France, and the other in Business Administration (MBA – Marketing) from Hamdard University, Pakistan. His research areas include economic impacts, economic modelling, sustainable tourism development, SMART tourism and behavioural studies. He has worked on consultancies and research projects at the national/international level and authored 80+ publications, including indexed research articles and book chapters. 12 postgraduate students (Master's and PhDs) have graduated under his supervision, and currently, he is supervising 7 PhD scholars. He is also active in several national and international associations, conferences, and journals. He is also an Associate Editor for the Asia-Pacific Journal of Innovation in Hospitality and Tourism (APJIHT) and Regional Editor (Asia) for the Event Management Journal. Jeetesh has coedited four books under CAB International, IGI, and Emerald and is currently editing five books with Emerald, IGI, and Springer. He is an active speaker and has been invited by several institutions in the Philippines, India, Japan, Indonesia, China, Australia, and Pakistan.

Sanjeev Kumar is working as a Professor in the School of Hotel Management and Tourism at Lovely Professional University, Punjab, India. He obtained his PhD in Hospitality from Amity University Rajasthan (2015–2018). He started his academic career as a Lecturer in Hotel Management at the Institute of Hotel Hospitality Industry Training Center in Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh. Before teaching, he worked in India and abroad with various renowned hotels. He has published more than 25 research papers, articles, and chapters in Scopus-indexed, UGC-approved, and peer-reviewed journals and books. Dr Sanjeev Kumar participated and acted as a resource person in various national and international conferences, seminars, research workshops, and industry talks. His area of research interest is F&B service, alcoholic beverages, event management, and sustainable practices.

Hande Akyurt Kurnaz, born in 1984 in Edirne. In 2005, she graduated from Ankara University Beypazarı Vocational High School Tourism Guidance associate degree program; in 2009, she graduated from Gazi University Faculty of Commerce and Tourism Education – Travel Management and Tourism Guidance Teaching. She completed his Master's degree at Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University Institute of Social Sciences, Department of Tourism Management in 2013 and her doctorate at Adnan Menderes University, Department of Tourism Management in 2018. She worked as a Research Assistant at Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University Institute of Social Sciences between 2010 and 2012 and as a Lecturer at Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University Marmaris Tourism Vocational School Tourism Guidance program between 2012 and 2019. She is currently working as an Associate Professor at Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal University, Faculty of Tourism, Department of Tourism Guidance.

Adam Lynes, an Associate Professor in Criminology at Birmingham City University, where he has taught since 2012, covering topics such as criminological theory, homicide, and transnational organized and corporate crime. He has published research on such areas as serial murder, family annihilation, organized crime, video games, and crime and dark tourism. He is currently in the process of completing a book on the crimes of the powerful for Policy Press.

Mr Puneet Mehta is a Research Scholar at Central University Kerala who explores the intricate dynamics of tourist behavior and technology. Puneet's academic focus centers on the intersection of psychology and tourist behavior, examining technology's impact on travel experiences. Puneet aspires to contribute significantly to scholarly comprehension of tourist behavior within the evolving technological landscape, heralding the start of a promising academic trajectory.

Neelima Modi is a Guest Faculty in the Department of Commerce and Management at the University of Kota, Kota, India. She has done BTech, MBA, and PhD in Business Administration. She was a gold medalist and college topper in her graduation and postgraduation. She has published and presented several research papers at national and international conferences. She was awarded best paper presentation at the international conference on the latest advancements and future trends in commerce and management, by Inspira Research Association, (2020) and Best Paper Presentation at International Conference on Prospects and Challenges Faced by Industries in 2020, Poornima University (2020).

Ravi Kant Modi is currently working as a Professor and Dean, Nirwan University Jaipur. He is a distinguished faculty member bringing with him an extensive 13 years of teaching experience. His contribution in research solidifies his position as a highly accomplished Researcher and Scholar. Dr Modi is an active member of several professional bodies, staying connected with the latest developments in his field. He has organized numerous online and offline conferences, seminars, FDP, workshops as Conference Secretary, showcasing his commitment to advancing knowledge and fostering intellectual exchange. As an author, Dr Modi has contributed to the academic community through his textbooks and edited books. Moreover, he has published over 40 papers in renowned national and international journals, including notable Scopus journals. His expertise in research is further exemplified by his position as an editorial board member for reputable journals. Dr Modi is an avid participant in academic conferences and seminars, having attended more than 50 events where he has presented his researches. His comprehensive knowledge and rich academic background make him an invaluable and a dedicated mentor to the students.

Mr Anish Mondal is a dedicated and passionate individual who is currently pursuing a Master's from NCHM IH Noida and a Master's in Tourism and Travel Management (MTTM) from IGNOU simultaneously. He completed his graduation from IHM Mumbai. He has a strong understanding of the industry's nuances and a keen interest in exploring and contributing to its ever-evolving landscape.

Dr Noëlle O'Connor is a Senior University Lecturer, Educational Developer and Researcher at the Technological University of the Shannon (Ireland). She has lectured for many years in other Irish higher education institutes including Technological University Dublin. Noëlle is on the Editorial Review Board for many of the leading tourism journals. Her research focuses on travel and tourism management, education for sustainable development, and gender equality within higher education. Noëlle has presented her research at many global conferences and in many referred journals.

Sinead O'Leary is a Lecturer in Tourism and Event Management at the Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) (Ireland). She has worked for many years as a Lecturer and a Researcher in the Irish Higher Education sector, currently in the Department of Hospitality, Tourism and Wellness in TUS. Sinéad has supervised student research at undergraduate and postgraduate levels and is actively involved with industry partners across the travel, tourism, event, and beauty industries.

Hanh Thi Pham is working as a Lecturer in Vietnam Women's Academy and Head of Tourism Department. At the same time, she's an Invited Lecturer at the University of Economics and Business, Vietnam National University, Hanoi; field Economics and Business Administration. She has a number of publications in reputed journals. Her research interest areas are tourism, dark tourism, and ecotourism.

Md. Mahfuz Ur Rahman is currently working as an intern in the USAID Ecotourism Activity supported by Bangladesh Ecotourism and Conservation Alliance (an initiative of the USAID-Bangladesh). He did his BSc (Hon's) in Forestry from Khulna University, Bangladesh and Master's in Agroforestry from Bangladesh Agricultural University, Bangladesh. Very recently, he has been admitted at University of Padova, Italy, to continue his higher studies in Forest Science (MSc). His preferred field of research interests is the human dimensions of natural resource management, tourism, and protected area management. He prefers working with both qualitative and quantitative data.

Suduweli Kondage Lathisha Jayangi Ramanayaka I am a PhD scholar specializing in the English Language and an enthusiastic Lecturer-in Charge of the Language Unit/Assistant Lecturer in English at Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism & Hotel Management (SLITHM), driven by a deep passion for creating dynamic and interactive learning environments within the lecture hall. My commitment to inspiring and motivating students is evidenced by consistent year-on-year improvements in academic scores. I possess strong competencies in managing research projects and consistently meeting stipulated timelines and am recognized as a proficient academic writer with a track record of publishing multiple research articles annually. As an ardent multidisciplinary researcher, I have already produced 23 remarkable research papers (03 Award-Winning Research Projects on English Language (01), Tourism and Women Empowerment (01), and Tourism Entrepreneurship (01); a research paper on Rural Tourism was presented in person at the International Research Forum, 14th Asia Tourism Forum in Indonesia on 07.05.2024, 08 research papers on the English Language, English Language Teaching, and Linguistics; 02 research papers on Education; 08 research papers on Tourism and Hospitality; 01 research paper on Buddhist Jurisprudence: Community Restorative Justice and currently have 11 ongoing research projects on diverse diciplinaries. My expertise extends to setting rigorous academic standards, crafting innovative curricula, and ensuring quality assurance at a professional level. Furthermore, I am a reviewer of research articles. Additionally, I hold the prestigious title of Distinguished Toastmaster and maintain active membership in 10 hybrid US Toastmasters Clubs. In the Toastmasters community, I serve as the District 62 Area C13 Director, and my versatile roles include that of a Motivational Speaker, Panelist, Moderator, and Compere. I take pride in being an Award-Winning Speaker at Toastmasters Speech Contests and am deeply committed to mentoring and coaching individuals in the art of public speaking. I also serve as a Visiting English Lecturer and embrace the role of a Servant Leader, driven by a genuine love for serving others above all else. I am an enthusiastic social worker who provides services at elder care homes, children's homes, and for animals, including stray dogs. Above all, I am a devoted follower of the omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient Mother Goddess Kali.

Divya Rani, currently working as PGT in UUMV Bhairwa, Madhubani, Bihar, India. She has completed a Bachelor of Economics and Master of Economics from Magadh University Bodhgaya, Bihar, India. She has completed a Bachelor of Education from GNDU in Punjab, India. Her area of research interest is tourism impact, industry, wellness tourism, and gender inequality. Divya Rani has also participated in various national and international conferences, seminars, and research workshops. She has published more than five research papers in Scopus Indexed, UGC Approved, and peer-reviewed Journals.

Samik Ray, National Award Winner Guide (IITG since 1984), Govt. of India, received a Certificate of Excellence for Overseas Adventure Travel, South ASIA (USA). Registered trainer of skill India, guide training courses, and Tourism skill development training programs of Govt. of India and West Bengal, taught tourism and folklore at universities. Ray is a Visiting Faculty in the Department of Tourism Management (Ramkrishna Mission Vidyamandira and Swami Vivekananda Institute of Modern Science), advisor to the Board of Studies (School of Hospitality and Culinary Art, The Neotia University, West Bengal), and delivered lecture at seminars; webinars, workshops, chaired sessions at national and international seminars, and webinars on tourism, and edited the journal Tourism: Theory and Practice and published articles and chapters in internationally acclaimed academic journals and edited volumes.

Birendra Kishore Roy is a dedicated hotelier and academic with extensive experience in the hospitality industry and academia. He currently serves as the Training Manager in the Learning and Development Department at Hotel Suryagarh Palace in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. With over 11 years of employment, including 4.5 years in the industry and 7 years in academic, teaching, training, and mentoring roles, Mr Roy has mentored over 500 students now employed by prestigious brands. He holds a Master's in Tourism and Travel Management from IGNOU and an MBA in Human Resources Management from Suresh Gyan Vihar University, alongside a BSc in Hospitality and Hotel Administration from IGNOU and NCHMCT. An enthusiastic researcher in tourism, hospitality, hotel management, and human resource management, Mr Roy has published four journal articles, and seven book chapters, and presented four research papers at conferences. He has completed 14 FDPs, published two patents, and holds eight prestigious certifications in Learning and Development. His work is recognized in both national and international peer-reviewed publications.

Nidhi Sharma is a Marketing and General Management Professional. Currently, she is working as an Assistant Professor at the Institute of Management Studies, Ghaziabad, and undertaking papers/subjects in the area entailing marketing, organization behavior, and business communication and advertising management. Along with this, she is also pursuing a PhD in Marketing from Sharda University, Greater Noida. She is the Faculty Coordinator of the BIG IDEAS Club. In terms of her corporate experience, she has completed her previous job assignments with Accord International, an Event management company, in New Delhi. Having experience of Academic more than 8 years. She has published various research papers in international and national journals of high repute and also presented her research work at various conferences across the globe. She has acquired a plethora of certifications in the area of marketing and research from prestigious institutions. She has a successful track record professionally and is adjudged for accomplishing multifold milestones in her carrier.

Dr Shruti Sharma is currently an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of School of Management, IMS Ghaziabad (University Courses Campus), India. Dr Sharma has worked as an Internal Trainer and Teacher in the management arena. Her doctorate degree is in commerce and management from the University of Kota, Kota Rajasthan, and she completed her dissertation research on the topic of “Managing Stress to Improve Efficiency & Motivation: A Case Study on an Academic Performance of Coaching Faculties in Kota City.” She has two postgraduate degree specialties – one in Business Administration (Master’s of Commerce) and another is MBA in Marketing and HR. With over 8 years of academic experience under her belt, she brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the table. She has authored numerous research papers in highly respected international and national journals, showcasing her expertise in the field. Additionally, she has had the privilege of sharing her research findings at prestigious conferences worldwide. Her commitment to advancing knowledge is evident through her acquisition of numerous certifications in marketing and research from esteemed institutions. Professionally, she has consistently achieved remarkable milestones, demonstrating her exceptional track record and garnering recognition for her accomplishments.

Shruti Sharma, PhD, Assistant Professor with a demonstrated history of working in education management. Skilled in lecturing, counseling, administration, mentoring, and management. Strong education professional with a PhD in Management focused on stress management and coping skills from the University of Kota, Kota.

Surbhi Sharma, PhD, is a Research Scholar at Banasthali Vidyapith, Jaipur, India. Her research interests include women empowerment, mass media, television, the portrayal of women in media, the formation of progressive female position in society, and the impact of media on the daily life of rural women.

Priya Sodani (BCom, MBA(IB), PhD). Dr Sodani has done her graduation from Mumbai University, Mumbai, and MBA(IB) and PhD from University of Kota, Kota. She was the gold medalist in Master’s in International Business in 2009, University of Kota, Kota. Currently, she is working as a Guest Faculty, Department of Commerce and Management, University of Kota, Kota, and also working as an Assistant Professor in Modi Institute of Management and Technology, Kota, and also worked as a Guest Faculty of Business Administration in J.D.B. Govt. Commerce Girls College, Kota. She has work experience in the corporate field for 3 years and education field for 11 years. She is a member of the Indian Accounting Association, Kota Branch. She has contributed 11 research articles to various national and international repute journals. She has presented eight papers in national and international conferences and seminars. Dr Sodani is the author of “Indian women in Economic World,” published in the year 2018. She has participated in many national and international webinars. She is an active member of social groups – Bharat Vikas Parishad, Rotary Padmini, Upasana Welfare society.

Seda Sökmen earned her academic degree from Akdeniz University and currently holds the position of Assistant Professor in the Department of Tourism Management at Anadolu University. Her academic journey includes a Master's thesis focusing on the analysis of visitors to postmodern museums. Currently pursuing a PhD, her research endeavors delve into the intricate examination of the influence of social identity, host–guest encounters, and interactions among tourists on travel experiences, approached through a social psychological lens. Her primary areas of scholarly interest encompass social psychology and museology, with a specific emphasis on understanding tourist experiences.

Neharshi Srivastava is currently working as an Assistant Professor, Amity University, Rajasthan. She is a gold medalist of Lucknow University and RCI licensed Rehabilitation Psychologist. Dr Srivastava has 10 years of counseling, research and industry experience. She is a trained CBT therapist from London. Her areas of expertise are mindfulness and positive and yogic psychology based intervention. She has more than 34 publications in international journals of Scopus/Web of Science/UGC recognized/UGC Care Listed/peer review and presented more than 32 papers in national and international conferences, contributed nine chapters in edited books and authored five books on different domains of psychology. She received “Best Young Faculty Award,” “Dhruv Ratan Award,” and “Jan Shakti Sema Samman” for outstanding contribution in the field of psychology. She has been invited as a Guest Speaker and Resource Person in various reputed national/international universities, news channels, and organizations like Vigyan Prasar, Department of Science and Technology, NISD, Narcotics Control Bureau, Government of India. She has supervised more than 25 Master’s and Bachelor's psychology students and currently supervises four PhD scholars doing their PhD under her supervision. She is also a core committee member of Indian Academy of Health Psychology. Apart from her academics, she has around 14 years' experience in the field of electronic media. She is a Radio Jockey of AIR FM Rainbow 100.7 Mhz. Lucknow.

Beth Storey has worked for many years in the hospitality and tourism sector and has recently graduated from the Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) (Ireland) BA(Hons) Business Studies with Travel and Tourism Management. She has previously worked as an Event Coordinator for heritage events, such as the “Ború 2014” celebrations in Killaloe, Co Clare, and is currently a Tour Guide at the Irish Workhouse Centre in Portumna, Co Galway, where she is part of a team responsible for exhibition design and for creating educational resources. She is currently a PhD student at the Technological University of the Shannon.

Preface

Over the past 10 years, dark tourism has become more and more popular as individuals look for deeper travel experiences and decide to genuinely deal with our more difficult heritage instead of just going on escapist holidays. A commemorative light on the epidemic that has engulfed society can be achieved through dark tourism. An umbrella concept for travel to sites that are associated for visits to locations like prisons, slave forts, and battlefields that are connected to agony and death. The Dark Tourism edited volume is relevant to students, scholars, and academicians associated with the fields of memorialization and morality death studies, history, cultural studies, psychology, business management, museology, and heritage tourism studies, as well as religious studies. The world over, dark tourism has grown in popularity in the 21st century. Travelers' evolving tastes and preferences, together with the emergence of the notion of special interest tourism, have compelled tourism regulators globally to include this market in their mission and vision statements. The people have experienced a number of terrible catastrophes, ranging from widespread natural disasters to genocide and war. The locations of these catastrophes are now popular travel destinations for dark tourism worldwide. The reason for the surge in gloomy tourism is that there are more tragedies worldwide. The use of social media has also played a significant role in raising awareness of this kind of travel. This book will focus on war tourism, disaster tourism, banditry tourism, macabre and supernatural tourism, and the abuses and ethical problems surrounding dark tourism as well.

Creating this edited book was primarily aimed at spreading knowledge about the “Dark Tourism: Theory, Interpretation and Attraction.”

This book is the conclusion of the meticulous efforts of many minds from India, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Malaysia, Ireland, USA, Netherland, China, Vietnam, England, and Bangladesh. We wish to thank all the contributors for their hard work.

Dr Anukrati Sharma

Dr Shruti Arora

Dr Parag Shukla