The geographies of thanatourism

Abstract

This article explores the geographies of thanatourism, a form of travel where tourists encounter places associated with death, disaster and the macabre. It seeks to encourage geographers' engagement with thanatourism to strengthen the credibility of the discourse, which has been criticised for lacking theoretical rigour and empirical evidence. Three key avenues of exploration are proposed: the commodification of death; the spatial tensions at thanatourism sites; and the emotional and affective geographies of gazing on commodified death. Contemporary and historical examples of thanatourism sites and practices are included to illustrate some of the current essential debates in the field. The article concludes with a note on the potential pedagogic value of utilising thanatourism to illustrate key geographical concepts.