Residents’ emotional and behavioral responses to visiting Maras (Varosha) as a dark tourism spot

ABSTRACT

Drawing upon evolutionary explanations of emotions and social appraisal theory, the present study investigated the emotional and behavioral responses exhibited by residents of Varosha during their visits to this specific dark tourism destination located in Famagusta, North Cyprus. To accomplish this objective, a qualitative research design was employed, involving interviews conducted with a select group of these residents. For data collection, a semi-structured questionnaire was developed. Utilizing a grounded theory approach, the researchers proposed a framework that delineates four sequential stages encompassing background emotions, pre-visit emotions, emotions experienced during the visit, and subsequent behavioral outcomes. Furthermore, various external factors prevalent within society that influence the emotional and behavioral outcomes of the residents were also identified. The findings of this study demonstrated that dark tourism sites possess the potential to symbolize notions of peace, hope, and interdependent relationships, and serve as a vehicle for educating future generations about past acts of inhumanity.

KEYWORDS:

• Dark tourism
• Maras (Varosha)
• evolutionary explanations of emotions
• social appraisal theory
• grounded theory
• emotional responses

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Niusha Talebzadeh

Niusha Talebzadeh is a Ph.D. student in the Faculty of Tourism at Eastern Mediterranean University (Famagusta, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, TRNC). She also obtained her bachelor's and master's degrees at this university. She has published articles in peer-reviewed journals such as the Journal of Air Transport Management. Her research interests include organizational behavior, tourism management, and advertising and marketing in the context of tourism research.

Ilkay Yorganci

Ilkay Yorganci is an assistant professor at Eastern Mediterranean University, where she teaches courses such as ethics and social issues in tourism, research methods, and advanced qualitative research methods. Her research interests are focused on women's issues, ecotourism, sustainable development, and the socio-cultural impacts of tourism.

Saeid Nosrati

Saeid Nosrati is a research associate at the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management (SHTM) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. He obtained his Master's degree in 2018 from Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. He has published articles in peer-reviewed academic journals. His current research fields include sustainable tourism, human-computer interactions, and leadership styles.

Cemal Kilic

Cemal Kilic is a Ph.D. student in the Faculty of Tourism at Eastern Mediterranean University (Famagusta, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, TRNC). He has a keen interest in cultural heritage studies with a focus on tourism management. He holds a Master's Degree in Media and Communication and a Bachelor of Science in Economics, both from Eastern Mediterranean University, Famagusta, TRNC. He has conducted several academic research projects at various levels.