LETTERS: In 2023, Tourism Malaysia recorded more than 20.14 million tourist arrivals, which brought in more than RM71.3 billion in receipts.
According to VN Express International, Malaysia was the most visited country in Southeast Asia throughout 2023.
Beautiful islands, delicious food and interesting cultures are the factors contributing to the high number of visitors. But we must not be satisfied with only those aspects.
We should maintain the growth of our tourism industry by introducing "dark tourism", where visitors can explore the darker side of our history and places.
It involves locations connected to tragedy, death and the supernatural. Dark tourism offers a greater comprehension of historical events and their effects on society.
In France, its catacombs, cemeteries and royal tombs are major tourist draws. In the United States, among the major attractions are the Museum of Death on Hollywood Boulevard, the Alcatraz prison off San Francisco, and the Lafayette cemetery in New Orleans.
Malaysia's historical monuments can broaden the country's travel and tourism sector. The historical fabric of Malaysia is woven by the threads of colonialism, conflict, and cultural transformation, all of which have left their mark on places that have the potential to become hubs for dark tourism.
Examples include the War Museum in Penang, Kellie's Castle in Perak, and the remnants of British and Japanese World War 2 emplacements around the nation.
Places abandoned due to high-profile tragedies would also be good attractions to educate the public.
Such places include the site of the Highland Towers collapse, the Mimaland theme park in Selangor that closed down due to a landslide, and the purportedly haunted Villa Nabila in Johor Bahru.
Dark tourism may boost Malaysia's economy by attracting a specific type of visitor willing to spend on admission fees, guided tours and other hospitality services.
A group of researchers discussed the potential benefits of Malaysian dark tourism at the International Conference on Economics, Business and Economic Education 2019.
They found that dark tourism helped create revenue to support the redevelopment of neighbourhoods devastated by tragedy.
Together with interacting with visitors and fostering better communication among them, they may also promote the local history and culture.
Malaysia has an extraordinary opportunity to diversify its tourism sector and share its complex history with the world by embracing dark tourism.
We can craft a captivating story that draws travellers looking for in-depth experiences and opportunities for analysis by carefully selecting and exposing these locations.
If we can do that, dark tourism may be the next big thing in Malaysia's tourism industry as tourists seek informative, eerie and historical experiences.
MUHAMMAD ATIFIN ASYRAF AMRI
Tanjung Malim
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times