Disaster tourism – Making good out of bad?

Disaster tourism – traveling to a disaster area as a matter of curiosity.

This subgenre of travel is understandably being criticized for objectifying the suffering of others. However, proponents say that tourism does not have to become an economic loser following large disasters.

For instance, New York City, site of the World Trade Center attack, now draws more than 9 million visitors per year, according to the Associated Press.

Disaster tourism took hold in New Orleans – post-Hurricane Katrina tours were a hot ticket following the storm that struck in August of 2005. Today there are guided bus tours to neighborhoods that were severely damaged and/or totally destroyed by the flooding.

Iceland’s Eyjafjallajökull volcano began erupting on March 20, 2010, and again on April 14, 2010 halting air travel and covering Northern Europe in volcanic ash. Disaster tourism quickly sprang up in the wake of the first eruption, with tour companies offering trips to see the volcano.

Similarly, “tornado travel” maps were distributed to tourists in Joplin, MO for those wishing to see areas devastated by a massive tornado that blew into town, creating a six-mile path of destruction the city.

USA Today just reported that ‘disaster tourists’ are beginning to swarm to Costa Concordia island. Barely a week after the cruise ship ran aground and keeled over just off the tiny Italian island of Giglio, ferries from the mainland are jammed with day-trippers trying to get a ringside view. More than 1,000 visitors arrived on Giglio from Tuscany’s Porto Santo Stefano Saturday, almost 10 times the normal number for a weekend in the off season. So close in the wake of the disaster, Giglio tourism officials are naturally aghast at the unwanted notoriety.

Not sure which disaster you’d like to experience? UK tour operator Disaster Tourism will assist.

So what do you think about “disaster tourism”?  How would you feel about visitors coming to see your disaster ravaged city?  Is it tacky for tour operators to profit off of others losses?  Or does it provide a much needed economic boost to a recovering community in need?

By: Chelsea Orth, KWE Partners