Dark tourism in Malta : witchcraft accusations in front of the Malta inquisition tribunal as a case study

Abstract

The history of humanity is the history of people on the move. People have been travelling in the past centuries for various reasons, be it holiday and leisure, work, or seek medical treatment. The need to travel created the Tourism Industry. The first thing that people understand when they hear the word Tourism is mass tourism. Mass tourism is strictly linked with leisure. Tourism branches into a variety of small niches. These niches are areas of interest that attract a smaller number of tourists but are still an important aspect of the industry. One of these niches is Dark Tourism. Dark Tourism revolves around people who visit places where suffering and death occurred. This thesis will explore the situation of Dark Tourism in Malta by using witchcraft in the Early modern period as a case study. The research focuses on the possibility of Dark Tourism in Malta and will show how witchcraft cases in front of the inquisition can be a good market for those interested in dark tourism. This thesis will identify the seminal work and main theories of Dark Tourism, touching on themes such as supply, demand and motivation. Witchcraft in the Early modern period in Malta will also be discussed. By analysing a questionnaire, interviews, and other primary data, the study will show what people think of Dark Tourism and show their interest in the subject, particularly visiting the Palace of the Inquisitor and Early modern witchcraft-related activities in Malta. This study will employ the mixed methods approach. The research will indicate a lack of general awareness on dark tourism.. that the thesis will conclude that people are interested in witchcraft-related themes and dramatization events. The thesis concludes that there is a market for Dark Tourism, especially in the sphere of witchcraft related themes.