Analysis of Visitor Experiences in Battlefields in The Context of Dark Tourism

Dark tourism is a type of tourism that involves visits to memorial sites, museums, and cemeteries to commemorate painful events experienced by societies in the past and to honor those who lost their lives in disasters and national heroes. This research aims to examine visitors' experiences at the Aziziye and Mecidiye Forts within the Commander-in Chief Historical National Park and Nene Hatun National Park, which are dark tourism destinations in Türkiye, as well as the emotional, identity-related, and cultural reflections of these experiences. The study was conducted using the phenomenological approach, one of the qualitative research methods; data were obtained by analyzing online visitor comments on Google and TripAdvisor platforms using thematic analysis. The findings show that visitors expressed deep emotional responses in all three areas, with national identity, heroism, and spiritual values coming to the fore. Although the Aziziye and Mecidiye Forts inspire pride with their tales of heroism, they are a source of disappointment due to neglect. The Commander in-Chief National Park is the area where national pride and spirituality are felt most intensely. The study has revealed that these war-zone destinations contribute to strengthening national identity by keeping collective memory alive. Consequently, strengthening the maintenance, management, and information infrastructure of these areas is recommended as a fundamental requirement for enhancing the emotional and educational experience. the emotional and educational experience.