Wednesday September 27th is world tourism day. But what is dark tourism. Listen to Tom explain this new (or not so new) phenomenon and make up your own mind. Is it a good or bad thing?
Wednesday September 27th is world tourism day. But what is dark tourism. Listen to Tom explain this new (or not so new) phenomenon and make up your own mind. Is it a good or bad thing?
This is the transcript for this podcast - try and fill in the gaps with the words below
undesirables, grave, grief, inappropriate, unethical, aware, theme, myriad, sympathy, isolated, re-charge, parks, perished, gladiators, mountainsides, slaves, murdered
What is Dark Tourism?Tourism is a very important business. It generates jobs and business in places that otherwise may be poor and deserted, such as _____(1) Greek islands or remote _____(2).It provides the chance for people to learn about new cultures and history, and even more importantly the chance for people to take it easy for a few days and _____(3) their batteries. What do think are the most visited tourist sites in the world?They are 5 The Eiffel Tower in Paris4 The Statue of Liberty in New York. 3 The Vatican Museum in Rome2 The Louvre Museum in Paris And number 1 The Coliseum in Rome.
Tourists often go to happy fun places such as beaches, or _____(4) _____(5). Disneyland or the Universal Studios are popular examples. But recently a new type of tourism has emerged, called DARK tourism. My question for you is – which of the top 5 tourist sites in the world could be considered a place for DARK tourism, and why?The answer will be at the end of this podcast. First I need to clarify exactly what dark tourism is – here is a definitionDark tourism, also known as black tourism, thanatourism or _____(6) tourism, is tourism that is associated with death or tragedy.The act of dark tourism is somewhat controversial, with some viewing it as an act of respect and others as _____(7) practice.Places which have become popular include Chernobyl, where there was a well known nuclear disaster in 1986, which had _____(8) environmental and human consequences. Auschwitz concentration camp in the south of Poland is also a popular attraction for tourists It is visited by over 2 million people per year. It was of course the place where the German Nazis _____(9) over 1 million jews and other so-called _____(10). A third place which is also popular with visitors is ground zero in New York, where the Twin Towers once stood, which were destroyed in the terrorist attacks of 9/11 2001. What do you think? Is it a lack of respect for tourists to visit places like this? Or does it provide an opportunity for education and to generate _____(11) for victims?When people go on tours around the streets of London to see where Jack the Ripper murdered his victims, they are having fun, but are they really _____(12) that they are visiting the scene of a serious crime? Before we decide whether this is a good or bad phenomenon let’s consider the question I asked at the start of this podcast?Which of the world’s top tourist sites could be considered a destination for DARK tourism?It is of course the Coliseum. It is impossible to know with certainty, but it is believed that as many as 400,000 people , between _____(13), _____(14), convicts, prisoners, and _____(15) other entertainers, _____(16) in the Colosseum over the 350 or so years during which it was used for human blood sports and spectacles.Personally I think that people are attracted by unusual events and the stories that go with them. _____(17) behaviour such as taking selfies at Aushwitz could definitely be seen as offensive, but as long as people behave respectfully – DARK tourism can also be worthwhile.
Correct answers:
1. isolated
2. mountainsides
3. re-charge
4. theme
5. parks
6. grief
7. unethical
8. grave
9. murdered
10. undesirables
11. sympathy
12. aware
13. gladiators
14. slaves
15. myriad
16. perished
17. inappropriate
Now match the words to the correct definitions
Definitions:
a. not morally right or acceptable
b. people considered unpleasant or unwelcome
c. separated from others; alone or lonely
d. countless or extremely large in number
e. the sloping sides of a mountain
f. feelings of pity and sorrow for someone else's misfortune
g. a place where a dead body is buried
h. ancient Roman fighters who battled in arenas for entertainment
i. people who are owned and forced to work without pay
j. having knowledge or perception of something
k. to replenish energy or power
l. deep sadness caused by loss or sorrow
m. died, especially in a sudden or violent way
n. not suitable or proper for a particular situation or person
o. killed intentionally and unlawfully
Words:
1. isolated
2. grief
3. murdered
4. grave
5. inappropriate
6. myriad
7. gladiators
8. undesirables
9. unethical
10. perished
11. sympathy
12. aware
13. re-charge
14. slaves
15. mountainsides
Correct matches:
1. c
2. l
3. o
4. g
5. n
6. d
7. h
8. b
9. a
10. m
11. f
12. j
13. k
14. i
15. e
And finally see if you can fill in these sentences with the correct word from the list
aware, myriad, isolated, gladiators, grave, unethical, perished, mountainsides, sympathy, murdered, grief, undesirables, re-charge, slaves, inappropriate
1. Living in an _____(1) place can be lonely.
2. We hiked up the _____(2) and enjoyed the beautiful view.
3. After a long day at work, I need some time to _____(3).
4. She felt _____(4) after losing her beloved pet.
5. It is _____(5) to cheat on a test.
6. The family visited the _____(6) of their grandfather.
7. He was _____(7) in a robbery gone wrong.
8. During World War II, the Nazis targeted _____(8) such as Jews and Roma.
9. My friend showed _____(9) when I was going through a hard time.
10. She was _____(10) of the danger of crossing the busy street.
11. In ancient Rome, _____(11) fought to entertain.
12. _____(12) were forced laborers who had no freedom.
13. There are a _____(13) of options for lunch at the cafeteria.
14. Many people _____(14) during the famine.
15. Wearing shorts to a job interview would be _____(15).
Correct answers:
1. isolated
2. mountainsides
3. re-charge
4. grief
5. unethical
6. grave
7. murdered
8. undesirables
9. sympathy
10. aware
11. gladiators
12. slaves
13. myriad
14. perished
15. inappropriate