DARK TOURISM DESTINATIONS: THE CASE OF AZERBAIJAN

Abstract

Diversifications in tourism activities are carried to distinctive dimensions by the time of the progress. In this sense in addition to the importance of cultural and artistic places in the life of societies, places related to death and tragedy also have an important function. The “darkness” in the concept of “Dark tourism” refers to an unfortunate situation previously experienced in the visited historical destination. Some like the Auschivitz concentration camp complex in Poland where mass murders of people in the history of the world, Fukushima and Hiroshima in Japan, Chernobyl in Ukraine, “Anne Frank House” memorial museum and places as well the Guba Genocide Memorial Complex, Martyrs’ Avenue in Azerbaijan have been visited with interest by the tourist coming to the country. Considering the concept of “Dark Tourism” in the world tourism literature, in this sense, there are the intriguing alternative opportunities of the Azerbaijan tourism industry. Within the scope of the phenomenon of “Dark Tourism” in Azerbaijan were defined, it has been determined that there are wide opportunities for tourism type in question.