Dark heritage unveiled: The transformation of tragedy into tourist experience and its challenges

This study examines how dark heritage sites balance visitor engagement, ethical responsibility, and heritage management within contemporary tourism contexts. Using a qualitative research design that combined content analysis, archival research, site observations, and media analysis, the study analyzed how narratives are constructed and managed at sites associated with death, tragedy, and suffering. The findings demonstrate that visitor engagement is shaped by emotional resonance, historical meaning, and interpretive strategies, while site managers face ongoing ethical challenges related to authenticity, commercialization, and commemoration. By identifying best practices for responsible interpretation and sustainable management, the study addresses a gap in dark tourism research concerning ethically informed, non-interview-based qualitative methodologies.