ABSTRACT
The experiences of local children, for whom dark tourism destination sites might hold more personal meaning, deserve special consideration. For these children, the destination represents factors that are not present for children who visit from ‘away’. A local child’s visit might be influenced by (a) personal memories of the memorialized event; (b) the involvement of family members, ancestors, or loved ones with that event; or (c) experiences of distress or loss related to that event. In addition, residing in a tourism destination complicates the experiences of young people, including how they see themselves in comparison to others visiting from ‘away’. Readers can increase their insight into this important facet of children’s experiences of dark tourism through a better understanding of the potential implications for children who live near these destinations.
