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@article{195610,
        author = {Bongale Sanchita Anil and Harsh Rathi and Dr. Younis Mohammad Malik},
        title = {VIRTUAL DARK TOURISM: EXPLORING VR AND AR EXPERIENCES OF HISTORIC TRAGEDIES AND DANGEROUS LOCATIONS},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2026},
        volume = {12},
        number = {11},
        pages = {1361-1370},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=195610},
        abstract = {The tourism industry has experienced significant transformation with the rapid integration of digital technologies. One of the most notable developments in this transformation is virtual tourism which is enables individuals to explore destinations through immersive technologies such as Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) without the need for physical travel. These technologies create interactive and simulated environments that allow users to experience locations remotely while maintaining a high level of engagement and realism. Within this digital evolution the concept of virtual dark tourism has emerged as a new way to explore sites associated with historical tragedies, disasters, wars and dangerous environments. Such locations often carry important historical and cultural significance but physical visits may raise ethical, environments and safety concerns. 
This study aims to examine the awareness, perception and acceptance of virtual dark tourism among potential users. The research also evaluates whether immersive technologies can provide an ethical, educational and sustainable alternative to traditional visits to sensitive or historically tragic locations. Primary data were collected through a structured questionnaire distributed online, generating 200 responses. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS statistical tools including descriptive analysis, reliability testing and One-Way ANOVA.
The results indicate that a majority of respondents are aware of the concept of dark tourism an believe that immersive technologies can significantly enhance understanding of historical tragedies and culturally significant events. Many respondents also expressed interest in exploring such sites virtually due to factors such as accessibility, safety, reduced travel costs an emotional comfort. However, participants also raised concerns related to realism, ethical sensitivity and the accurate emotional representation of tragic events in virtual environments. The study concludes that virtual dark tourism has strong potential as an educational and responsible extension of tourism when supported by ethical storytelling and historical accuracy.},
        keywords = {Virtual Dark Tourism, Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, Immersive Tourism, Digital Heritage.},
        month = {April},
        }