Full Text Available
Note: Clicking the button above will open the full text document at the original institutional repository in a new window.
"Capitalising on fear? Developing a serial killer tourism attraction in South Africa"
Dissertation (MSocSci)--University of Pretoria, 2026.
Saved in:
| Other Authors: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
University of Pretoria
2026
|
| Subjects: | |
| Tags: |
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1869483825931747328 |
|---|---|
| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author2 | Botha, C.R. |
| author_browse | Botha, C.R. |
| author_facet | Botha, C.R. |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | © 2024 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. |
| description | Dissertation (MSocSci)--University of Pretoria, 2026. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/108565 |
| institution | University of Pretoria (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-07-01T04:05:09.728Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| publishDateRange | 2026 |
| publishDateSort | 2026 |
| publisher | University of Pretoria |
| publisherStr | University of Pretoria |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| spelling | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/108565 "Capitalising on fear? Developing a serial killer tourism attraction in South Africa" Botha, C.R. louisajordaan25@gmail.com Jordaan, Louisa UCTD Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Serial killers Criminology Dark tourism Tourism Dissertation (MSocSci)--University of Pretoria, 2026. South Africa has the third highest number of recorded serial killers globally, with the United States of America and the United Kingdom having the highest and second highest per capita, respectively. However, while both countries have established a “serial killer tourism niche”, noted in the cases of Jeffrey Dahmer and “Jack-the-Ripper” attractions, South Africa has failed to do so as of yet. This dissertation sets forth to examine the latter industry lacuna, academically, from a uniquely South African context, and theorises a way to establish a globally competitive serial killer tourism attraction that will benefit the country on a local, provincial and national level, both economically and socially. This investigation used a case study-based research methodology within a qualitative research design to conceptualise and contextualise “serial killer tourism” as a sub-segment of the dark tourism phenomena at a hyper-local level. Furthermore, this dissertation also provides an in-depth historical overview of dark tourism and explores this travel market segment in South Africa. Using this as a point of departure, this inquiry likewise provides detailed appraisals into ten dark tourism attractions globally, followed by discussing ten dark tourism attractions in South Africa. Subsequently, the detailed examination of these twenty dark tourism attractions is used to form the foundation of a unique ethical framework that can be applied to the establishment and operation of a serial killer tourism attraction in South Africa. Moreover, the social and economic feasibility and viability of the envisaged serial killer tourism attraction in question will be expounded upon. This study further provides readers with a glimpse into the largely specialised, yet underexplored, academic world of forensic psychology and the broader field of investigative sciences, including “tourism criminology”. The novel concept of safe fear – a space where tourists can safely interact with their fear of murder and their curiosity around the social phenomenon of serial killers – is also formulated and deployed. In this desktop study paired with critical thematic analysis of archival materials, along with secondary sources, it has been determined that the ethical establishment and operation of a serial killer attraction in South Africa will provide a unique context in which visitors/tourists are provided with an educational opportunity to satisfy their curiosity regarding the social phenomenon of serial killer. It was found that in the long-term such a touristic sphere would provide a unique environment (“safe space”) of victim commemoration to shift public focus from the serial killer to the victim. The latter which serves as the vocal point to the aforementioned hypothetical tourist attraction that will be unpacked in this dissertation. The financial assistance of the National Department of Tourism (NDT) and the University of Pretoria (UP) towards this research is hereby acknowledged. However, the views expressed in this dissertation, and conclusions arrived at, are those of the author and are not to be attributed to the internal and/or external funders. Historical and Heritage Studies MSocSci (Heritage and Cultural Tourism) Unrestricted Faculty of Humanities SDG-08: Decent work and economic growth SDG-09: Industry, innovation and infrastructure SDG-16: Peace, justice and strong institutions 2026-02-20T13:13:51Z 2026-02-20T13:13:51Z 2026-05-14 2026-02-20 Dissertation * A2026 http://hdl.handle.net/2263/108565 https://doi.org/10.25403/UPresearchdata.31376422 en © 2024 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria |
| spellingShingle | UCTD Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Serial killers Criminology Dark tourism Tourism "Capitalising on fear? Developing a serial killer tourism attraction in South Africa" |
| title | "Capitalising on fear? Developing a serial killer tourism attraction in South Africa" |
| title_full | "Capitalising on fear? Developing a serial killer tourism attraction in South Africa" |
| title_fullStr | "Capitalising on fear? Developing a serial killer tourism attraction in South Africa" |
| title_full_unstemmed | "Capitalising on fear? Developing a serial killer tourism attraction in South Africa" |
| title_short | "Capitalising on fear? Developing a serial killer tourism attraction in South Africa" |
| title_sort | capitalising on fear developing a serial killer tourism attraction in south africa |
| topic | UCTD Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Serial killers Criminology Dark tourism Tourism |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/2263/108565 https://doi.org/10.25403/UPresearchdata.31376422 |