Sixthformers delve into dark tourism

Students from Barrow Sixth Form College discovered more about the appeal of dark tourist sites when they attended a specialist session at Teesside University in Middlesbrough this week.

The sixthformers heard about how the sites of nuclear disaster zones, serial killer homes and attractions such as Auschwitz-Birkenau had developed as ‘must-see’ dark tourist destinations.

They included students on the college’s popular Travel and Tourism course, which has visited Auschwitz in previous years alongside trips to Disneyland Paris.

Course leader Esme Taylor said: “It was a fascinating session which really opened their eyes to the appeal of dark tourism, the historical interest in such sites and also the way Chernobyl has now developed as a place to visit. I was so impressed with how our students engaged in the event and came away with a different perspective on that side of the industry.”