Dark Tourist - Autonomous work

Hi everyone,

Like Léa I chose a topic around the trip. But I'll talk about the macabre tourism, with the netflix series "Dark Tourist".
This is a documentary series made by New Zealand journalist, David Farrier. It investigates the macabre tourism, which attracts more and more people, and who choose countries at war, or devastated and full of other imporbable destinations, as places of vacation.
In the first report, David goes to Colombia, in Medellin, to investigate narco tourism. A tourism around Pablo Escobar that is very lucrative for the region, and highly appreciated by tourists. During his trip, he goes on a touristic tour, with Pablo's former right-hand man, Popeye.
In the following story, the journalist flies to Mexico City, to learn more about the cult called 'Santa Muerte', a cult that celebrates death and is becoming more and more adapted.Where he will participate in an excorsime session.
To finish his journey, he decides to leave Mexico, as a clandestine. He will participate in a tour, rather realistic, organize to "live" the crossing of the Mexican border to go to the United States.

So, what do you think of this black tourism? And David's first report?

Hi Marcelline,

i think it could be interesting to learn more about the dark market. But in this case, the Dark tourism seems to be really risky and I can't feel secure with Popeye, the former right-hand man.

So for me the dark tourist is just a way to have some fears.
I prefer look a journalist report if I want to now more about countries in state of war, or devastated and full of other unlikely destinations, as narco traffic.

Hi Mégane !

I agree with you, the black tourism is practiced by people in search of sensation and who also have some unhealthy curiosity. For example, in the second episode, the journalist goes to Japan where he visits a radioactive place. According to the government it is a safe city, however no inhabitant has wished to return there. It's clearly the thrill that these tourists came looking for when coming to this radioactive place and not without danger to health.
This unhealthy curiosity is felt when the journalist crosses the forest "of suicide", a forest known in Japan for its many suicides including hanging. Some toursites go there with the intention of discovering a special atmosphere, the ghosts of others a body. This tourism is truly foreign, morbid and uncomfortable.
And yes, as you say Mégane, this black tourism is above all a search for fear, chills unhealthy.

Hi Marceline !

I start watching the first episode of the series yesterday because I love travelling ! Indeed, when I rode your topic it intrigues me a lot.

I saw the three experiences in Latin America with Escobar, Santa Muerte and the border. I really enjoyed the way the documentary is filmed because it is a kind of report and David is the narrator. The story which draw my attention is the last one : the journey to leave Mexico. It surprised me a lot, I didn't expect that kind of offer for tourists. We already know that crossing the border is dangerous and risky. In my opinion, it is creepy to pay for that !

Personally, I've already travelled in several countries during my short life and I've never experienced dark tourism or even just imagined about it. But I remember something that shocked me a lot when I was in Brazil, more precisely in Rio. I remember that some companies organized touristic tours to go inside 'favelas' and it was written 'safaris' ! Really ?? Are inhabitants from favelas are curious animals ? I can understand that it could be intriguing but I don't think it is ethical earn money showing the life of those people who never ask for that !

I look forward to talk about the next episodes about others parts of the world