Visiting disaster sites 'can be educational'

The so-called practice of grief tourism - visiting the scene of a disaster or tragedy - can hold benefits for travellers.

This is according to Chelsea Orth of travel PR agency KWE, who said that some tourists may find visiting locations such as Holocaust museums or the site of the 9/11 disaster in New York to be "therapeutic".

"Also, there is something authentic and demystifying about visiting subjects and sites first hand," she remarked.

Ms Orth added that those looking for a more educational experience, grief tourism can give travellers the opportunity to learn more about different cultures.

"Being able to empathise and learn about other peoples' cultures is something that one can't experience without going to the source," she explained.

About one million people visited the site of the Auschwitz Nazi camp in 2005, representing the highest figure since 1972.

The Ground Zero site in New York was also "a major tourist attraction" after the events of September 11th 2001, according to the Michigan Daily.

Posted by Clare, 02 June 2008 17:36

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