Future Dystopian Attractions: Benign Masochism in Dark Tourism

 Dark Tourism Futures: Thoughts, Ideas, Scenarios

 The Future of Dark Tourism by Philip R. Stone (channelviewpublications.com)

Philip R. Stone & Daniel W.M. Wright

Chapter 21

Robert Bristow, Alina Gross & Ian Jenkins

Future Dystopian Attractions: Benign Masochism in Dark Tourism

Bristow et al., examine the nature and future of ‘fright attractions.’ The chapter offers a critical account of how and why voyeuristic audiences are drawn to a fictional future of death and suffering, while insisting on a sanitised spectacle. Taking a cross-cultural approach, Bristow et al., anticipate the future of ‘fright tourism’ based upon a macabre interest in death, yet one that is disinfected from reality. With case examples from Japan, Mexico, and Romania, the study is grounded in notions of risk, folklore and mythmaking, geopolitics, religiously, and cultural identity. The chapter also suggests that a ‘benign masochism’ (of pain and pleasure) might be inherent in fright tourism and will remain a key issue for future (lighter) dark tourism attractions and tourist experiences.

Fifty years ago today on the AT

 Fifty years ago, we hike the trail between Sugarloaf and Spauling Mountains in Maine, the very last piece of trail to make the whole AT complete that was blazed and cleared on August 14, 1937.

Some pics and maps of the area:

and the LiDAR image

Today, 50 years ago, on Appalachian Trail

 The first day of September 1974, Avery LT was our camp after a 21 mile day.  Several nice views from the mountains along the way including mine, the same as Avery’s Silver Aisle picture.   Several LT’s are now found next to the pond.

Except for the lack of backpackers in the shot, this view has to be one of the most iconic views found along the whole AT.  I think it might top McAfee Knob!

The Bigelow Range was initially blazed by Helon N. Taylor, then Game Supervisor in Maine.  The trail was later improved in 1934-36 by the CCC.

A current map of the Mountain can be found here.

A highly recommended hike!

Forded the Kennebec River 50 year ago today

 August 1974 would end with the approach to the Kennebec River, first with a 20 mile day from Breakneck Ridge LT to Pleasant Pond LT.  As would be the norm for Maine, it was a wet day, and my boots were constantly wet.  On the last day of August, we crossed the Kennebec early in the morning with no problem.  My journal reported “Big .2 Mile! More like 400 feet or perhaps up to 600 feet. Got up to my crouch or pant legs.  No sweat….Dried out in sun on west bank especially boots and sox.”

The actual river gauge for that week shows the trend.  The river was flowing about 3000 CFS just north of Caratunk, slightly higher than the norm for the date (the Triangle).  Caratunk, is the Abenaki, first nation’s name meaning “forbidding or crooked stream” and interestingly enough Kennebec is “level water river’ or long quiet water.”

Approach road from Trail North.

Volunteer Vaca with AHS

 A chance to volunteer on the AT coming soon to Massachusetts.

Special Abbreviated Trip! Appalachian National Scenic Trail, MA - Volunteer Vacation 2024 - American Hiking Society

Clearing the Appalachian Trail Boundary is an important step for volunteers on the AT.

You can also volunteer here.

Sensory Tourism book to be published soon

 Our book is expected this fall. 

CABI's Website is Home - CABI.org

International Visitors Spent $21.2 Billion in June 2024

A quote from news feed: 

Data recently released by the National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO) show that in June 2024:

• International visitors spent $21.2 billion on travel to, and tourism-related activities within, the United States during the month of June, an increase of more than 14 percent compared to June 2023.
• Conversely, Americans spent more than $20.8 billion traveling abroad during June, yielding a slight balance of trade surplus of $360 million for travel and tourism-related goods and services.

• International visitors have spent nearly $126.2 billion on U.S. travel and tourism-related goods and services year to date (January through June 2024), an increase of 17 percent when compared 2023; international visitors have injected, on average, nearly $697 million a day into the U.S. economy year to date.
• U.S. travel and tourism exports accounted for 23.1 percent of U.S. services exports during June 2024 and 8.0 percent of all U.S. exports, goods and services alike.

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Composition of Monthly Spending (Travel Exports)

• Travel Spending 
• Purchases of travel and tourism-related goods and services by international visitors traveling in the United States totaled $11.7 billion during June 2024 (compared to $10.0 billion in June 2023), an increase of 16 percent when compared to the previous year. These goods and services include food, lodging, recreation, gifts, entertainment, local transportation in the United States, and other items incidental to foreign travel.
• Travel receipts accounted for 55 percent of total U.S. travel and tourism exports in June 2024.
• Passenger Fare Receipts
• Fares received by U.S. carriers from international visitors totaled $3.5 billion in June 2024 (compared to $3.0 billion in the previous year), up 17 percent when compared to June 2023. These receipts represent expenditures by foreign residents on international flights provided by U.S. air carriers.
• Passenger fare receipts accounted for 17 percent of total U.S. travel and tourism exports during June.
• Medical/Education/Short-Term Worker Spending
• Expenditures for educational and health-related tourism, along with all expenditures by border, seasonal, and other short-term workers in the United States totaled $6.0 billion in June 2024 (compared to $5.5 billion in June 2023), an increase of 9 percent when compared to the previous year.
• Medical tourism, education, and short-term worker expenditures accounted for 28 percent of total U.S. travel and tourism exports in June 2024.