Which type of tourism is referred to as dark tourism?

Dark tourism refers to travel to destinations that are historically associated with death, suffering, or tragedy. This concept involves visiting sites such as battlefields, former prisons, concentration camps, and locations of natural disasters or atrocities. The primary appeal of dark tourism lies in the desire to understand or pay respects to the events that took place at these locations, often seeking to engage with the deeper, often unsettling aspects of human history.

When considering the other options, travel to historical sites may include a wide range of experiences that do not focus specifically on death or suffering; hence, they do not align with the core theme of dark tourism. Adventure tourism in wild landscapes typically emphasizes thrill-seeking experiences in nature, which is distinctly different from the contemplative and sometimes somber nature of dark tourism. Meanwhile, luxury vacations in secluded locations emphasize comfort and exclusivity, often avoiding the more serious themes that dark tourism encapsulates. Thus, the correct identification of dark tourism as tourism directed to places associated with death and suffering aligns accurately with its definition and intent.