Understanding Dark Tourism Acceptance in Southeast Asia: The Case of WWII Sandakan–Ranau Death March, Sabah, Malaysia

Abstract

Recently, the idea of dark tourism has grown to be part of tourism fascination, and the trend has spiked to an increasing number of people traveling to visit places where battles, massacres, and evil deeds were carried out in the past. Despite the increasing demand of dark tourism visitation, Malaysia among other countries in Southeast Asia is still very careful on branding and promoting its potential attraction as “dark tourism” site. Based on the WWII Sandakan–Ranau Death March, this preliminary study is intended to understand through conceptualizing the local community acceptance toward the potential dark tourism development in Sabah, Malaysia. The study argues that due to the local community custom, belief, and culture, the exploitation of grief, death, and dark tragedy in the past as dark tourism attraction, with the intention of satisfying touristic experience, is less acceptable. It is also suggested that the acceptance factors among the local community have influenced the decision and perspective in exploring and branding a potential site as dark tourism attraction.