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Welcome to the Impact Index

A unique tool designed to objectively assess dark tourism sites worldwide.


Encourages Reflection – Inspires you to reflect on your own travels to both local and global destinations.


Objective Criteria – While the scores are based on my observations and personal experiences, they follow objective criteria to provide insights into each site’s transformative potential.
 

Curated Selection – This is not an exhaustive list, but a carefully curated selection to help travelers explore, reflect, and connect with the impact these places have on history, resilience, and the human spirit.


Guidance for Personal Growth – Use this index as a guide to deepen your understanding of dark tourism destinations near and far.

Note: This version is a work in progress. Your thoughts and ideas are invaluable for improving this list, including what sites you want added. Please send any feedback to cscott@mesabacare.com

The three assessed areas include:

  1. Darkness: This measures the degree to which each site is related to suffering, tragedy, death, and the macabre.

  2. Educational Value: This is based on the knowledge visitors can gain from the experience, including exhibits, tour guides, and signage.

  3. Emotional Impact: This measures the potential for each site to emotionally affect and transform its visitors.

Darkness

  • 10/10: Site of extreme historical tragedy or atrocity.

  • 8/10: Place associated with considerable suffering.

  • 6/10: Site of historical significance with some dark elements.

  • 4/10: Site with minor dark historical significance.

  • 2/10: Place with very limited dark historical relevance.

  • 0/10: No association with dark events or history.

 

Educational Value

  • 10/10: Provides comprehensive information.

  • 8/10: Contains solid educational material.

  • 6/10: Provides limited educational content.

  • 4/10: Very little educational content, possibly just historical markers.

  • 2/10: Negligible educational content, possibly just a mention/plaque.

  • 0/10: No educational content or information provided.

 

Emotional Impact

  • 10/10: Profoundly moving.

  • 8/10: Strongly emotional.

  • 6/10: Some emotional impact.

  • 4/10: Limited emotional resonance.

  • 2/10: Hardly any emotional impact.

  • 0/10: No emotional impact at all.

Click Text to See Image

Under consideration for inclusion (please email with recommendations): chadscott77@gmail.com

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