By Olivia Miwil - September 15, 2021 @ 11:45am
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah government is looking into developing dark tourism as a new product and preserve the history in the state.
Its state Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin said the package has high potential of attracting domestic and international visitors.
"I view the concept of dark tourism as two distant magnets, the first is about the potential areas which raise the questions of what, why, how, where and when.
"The second is us, the human beings. Naturally, people are creatures with high curiosity.
"Therefore, this workshop we are doing is to put both magnets closer to attract each other," he said during the virtual launching of Blending Eco And Dark Tourism Workshop: New Sabah Parks Potential Tourism Product After Pandemic.
Also in the launching via Zoom were Jafry's Assistant Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai, the ministry's permanent secretary Yusrie Abdullah, Sabah Parks director Dr Maklarin Lakim and Sabah Tourism Board chief executive officer Noredah Othman.
He added that based on studies, areas or tourist places with potential to be developed as dark tourism destinations include war sites, prisons, slavery places, graveyards, memorial parks and places with significant historical events.
"The elements in the dark tourism concept will give a different experience, sometimes it is unique or scary.
"This is what Sabah Parks is trying to develop and expand by looking into the history within its parks."
He said some researchers also said that dark tourism protects history from being forgotten.
"It will become a source of information and open research opportunities to link the past to present and the future."
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