This paper reviews academic research into dark tourism and thanatourism over the 1996–2016 period. The aims of this are threefold. First, it evolution concepts thanatourism, highlighting similarities differences between them. Second evaluates progress in 6 key themes debates. These are: issues definition scope concepts; ethical associated with such forms tourism; political ideological dimensions thanatourism; nature demand for places death suffering; management places; methods used...

Understanding the politics of heritage, edited by Rodney Harrison, Manchester, Manchester University Press, 2010, 328 pp., £24.99 (pbk), ISBN 9780719081521 This is one three books in a series en...

Abstract In recent years the study of urban toponymy (place names) has been revitalized by emergence a ‘critical toponymies' approach. This focuses on cultural politics place naming and decisions involved in attributing names to landscape. However, contemporary cities have an economic role addition their political role. particular, there calls for more attention commodification place‐naming rights practices. article seeks respond these addressing issue as commodities. It begins examining...

COVID-19 has played out in Romania a similar way to that many other European countries. The government implemented decisive early measures which were able keep the infection and mortality rates relatively low. This paper considers three distinctive aspects of situation Romania. First, was complicated by influence transnational migrant workers, large numbers whom returned when pandemic started, accounting for distinct geographical variations infection. At same time, leave country at height...

This paper considers 'communist heritage' tourism (that is, the consumption of sites and sights associated with former communist regimes) in contemporary Central Eastern Europe. As one form special interest tourism, this phenomenon is an illustration ever-diversifying tourist gaze. However, such also raises wider issues concerning relationship between politics identity region. While countries Europe are seeking to construct new, post-communist identities (a process which can play a...

The critical study of toponymy has paid considerable attention to the renaming urban places following revolutionary political change. Such is intended institutionalize a new agenda through shaping meanings in everyday practices and landscapes. Renaming, however, might not always be successful, this article examines issue with reference market Bucharest, Romania. Originally named Piaţa Moghioroş during socialist era commemorate leading Communist Party activist, was renamed postsocialist...

This paper explores motives for visiting a lightest dark (heritage) tourism attraction. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with 24 visitors to the London Dungeon. Few reported an interest in death, suffering or macabre as important their decision visit, finding which accords research at range of other types darker places. Instead, most people visited from general incidental reasons that unrelated attraction's theme. However, while few stated learning was reason visiting, many element...

This paper considers how the legacy of communism and revolution has become focus interest among Western tourists in post-communist Bucharest. It argues that 'communist heritage' tourism - consumption key sights sites associated with Ceausescu regime its overthrow emerged as a particular form cultural or heritage for special tourists. However, this is which defined constructed entirely outside Romania. Within Romania itself there understandably little desire to remember period communist rule,...

In recent years there has been increasing attention on tourism as a form of performance. Moreover, some work focused the role tourist performances in making (and remaking) places. This article explores these issues with reference to Transylvania, Romania, through ethnographic fieldwork group Western tourists visiting Transylvania for Halloween. It was clear that, tourists, their visit firmly grounded what they brought them from home cultures. particular, whole circumscribed by an enduring...

Academic geographers have a long history of studying both tourism and place names, but rarely made linkages between the two. Within critical toponymic studies there is increasing debate about commodification to date role in this process has been almost completely overlooked. In some circumstances, toponyms can become tourist sights based on their extraordinary properties, broader associations within popular culture, or as metanyms for other aspect place. Place names may be own right...

This paper follows the mobilities between 1958 and 1990 of dead body Dr Petru Groza (1884–1958), a significant political figure in post‐World War II socialist Romania, to explore implications for human geography engaging with dead. Although there has been considerable interest ‘geographies body’ ‘deathscapes’, had relatively little say about bodies. The draws on literatures from death studies politics, as well research memory studies, history, anthropology law, develop an interdisciplinary...

This special edition examines various aspects of urban tourism in the post-communist cities Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). It begins by examining nature restructuring region since end communism way that this unfolds cities. then major global changes their impacts on CEE. These include growing demand among tourists for new experiences destinations; impact budget airlines smaller cities; sharing economy (particularly Airbnb); emphasis events festivals as a means attracting visitors to The...