In love with the darkness: topophilia and thana-tourism

Thomas, Robert, Daunt, Kate ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6741-4924 and Reynolds, Laura 2025. In love with the darkness: topophilia and thana-tourism. Presented at: Academy of Marketing Conference:Saints & Scholars, Cork, Ireland, 07-10 July 2025.

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Abstract

We draw from forty-two walking interviews undertaken with dark tourists at some Europe’s darkest sites to examine the potential for Topophilia. In doing so we contribute to the literature by revealing five topophilic domains (1) Infatuation (2) Transformation, (3) Enchantment, (4) Atmosphere and (5) Bonding ceremonies that create, forge and cement attachment to dark sites and a love of them. Additionally data indicates that some sites take on a sense of home offering privacy, limited intrusion and a sense of security. Critically the study enriches our understanding of dark tourists, dark sites, place centred knowledge and we identify both the cognitive and affective elements that underpin place attachment, and indeed love for dark sites. We additionally introduce the concept of ‘Dark Utopia’s, sites that encapsulate dark tourists experiential needs.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Status:	Unpublished
Schools:	Schools > Business (Including Economics)
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HT Communities. Classes. Races
Date of Acceptance:	16 April 2025
Last Modified:	19 Jun 2025 13:45
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/179050

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