Dark tourism and World Heritage Sites: a Delphi study of stakeholder perceptions of the development of dark tourism products

Stakeholders at the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site in London are broadly supportive of tourism growth but reject dark tourism, perceiving it as inauthentic and sensationalist. A Delphi study revealed that while stakeholders value tourism development, they oppose incorporating dark tourism elements due to ethical concerns. The research highlights the need for better stakeholder education on dark tourism and its potential integration with heritage resources. This finding contrasts with the growing academic interest in dark tourism, suggesting a disconnect between scholarly exploration and practical application at UNESCO sites.

Kennell, J., & Powell, R. (2020). Dark tourism and World Heritage Sites: a Delphi study of stakeholder perceptions of the development of dark tourism products. Journal of Heritage Tourism, 16(4), 367–381. https://doi.org/10.1080/1743873x.2020.1782924