Dark Tourism, with Philip Stone

In this conversation, Heather A. Warfield and Philip Stone delve into the concept of dark tourism, exploring its definitions, origins, and the motivations behind visiting sites associated with death and tragedy. They discuss the spectrum of dark tourism, the experiences of visitors, and the role of social media in shaping perceptions of these sites. The conversation also touches on the importance of memory, commemoration, and the need for responsible interpretation of dark tourism narratives. Dr. Stone shares insights from his work at the Institute for Dark Tourism Research and speculates on future directions in the field, including the integration of technology and the importance of storytelling in dark tourism.

Psychology of Pilgrimage host, Dr. Heather A. Warfield, is a researcher, professor, and specialist of pilgrimage studies, with research focused on the psychology of pilgrimages. She is the series editor of Pilgrimage Studies (Peter Lang), co-editor of Pilgrimages to the Western Front of World War I: Historical Exemplars & Contemporary Practices, and editor of Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Pilgrimage: Historical, Current and Future Directions. In addition to academic publications, she has written articles about contemporary battlefield pilgrimages for US military publications and serves as a battlefield pilgrimage expert for military staff rides and other related educational programs.

​​Dr Philip R. Stone is Co-Founder and Director of the Institute for Dark Tourism Research (iDTR) at the University of Lancashire. He is a globally recognised authority in the fields of dark tourism and difficult heritage, with an extensive portfolio of academic publications. Since 2023, Philip has been ranked among the global Top 2% of scholars for research impact, according to a study by Elsevier and Stanford University.

Philip has played a pivotal role in shaping public understanding of dark tourism through widespread engagement with international media. His insights have been featured by leading media outlets including the BBC, CNN, ITN, ABC (Australia), The New York Times, The Guardian, Der Spiegel, The Conversation, New Scientist, and The Washington Post. He is also the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Dark Tourism Studies—the first academic journal dedicated exclusively to this emerging field.

His recent books include:

• 'Children, Young People and Dark Tourism' (Routledge, 2023) – the first-ever volume to explore children’s encounters with difficult heritage.

• 'The Future of Dark Tourism: Enlightening New Horizons' (Channel View, 2024) – the first book to examine dark tourism through the lens of futurology.

• '111 Dark Places in England That You Shouldn’t Miss' (Emons, 2021) – the first commercial guidebook dedicated to dark tourism.

• '111 Dark Places in Scotland That You Must Not Miss' (Emons, 2025) – his latest contribution aimed at engaging wider public audiences.