Dark tourism : deviant behaviour at a dark tourism site : Auschwitz-Birkenau as a case study

Abstract

One of the most popular niche tourism markets is dark tourism. Since it is a very broad phenomenon, this research will look into the concept of deviant behaviour within one of the famous dark tourism sites, Auschwitz. Due to the nature of the place, unorthodox behaviour is prohibited and hence, this research was conducted to better understand what is morally right and what is not when visiting Auschwitz. The data for this research was collected through an organised focus group, an online interview with one of the members at Auschwitz’s Press Office and researching already available Tripadvisor reviews. The outcome of the primary research gathered shows that most of the visitors at Auschwitz get to encounter some sort of inappropriate behaviour during their visit. People exhibit different opinions towards the different topics related to deviant behaviour since they are highly debatable and controversial. The findings suggest that many are still not aware of their own behaviour at sensitive sites, and their behaviour might affect the experience of other visitors. It is of crucial importance to educate the public and remind people that such sites are intended to commemorate lost lives.