Exploring the Concept of Dark Tourism in Hungary: A Qualitative Study

The research explores the perception and potential of dark tourism in Hungary through a qualitative study. The interviews were conducted with Hungarian tourism academics and professionals to examine how they interpret the concept of dark tourism in the Hungarian context; the findings indicate that dark tourism is an ambiguous field in Hungary that evokes different attitudes from tourism professionals: some find it the worst tourism type, others think it is relevant and necessary. It also makes it clear that there is no clear consensus among experts regarding the definition of dark tourism, the classification of dark tourism attractions, or the appropriate ways to communicate and market such sites, even amongst a limited number of interviewees. While the term itself remains contested—an appropriate reflection of the gravity of these sites versus the evocations of other kinds of associations with the word “dark”—it is concluded that the term is applicable, even in Hungary. Despite the limitations of a relatively small qualitative sample and the resulting constraints on generalizability, the study provides valuable insights into current perceptions of dark tourism amongst tourism professionals. Additionally, it is proposed to further spread awareness of the possible positive sides of dark tourism outside of the sphere of academic dark tourism researchers.