Viral, Eruption of Mt. Semeru Location Becomes a Selfie Spot, Does it Include Dark Tourism?

TRIBUNBATAM.id --  Social media was enlivened with videos showing a number of people taking selfies at the location of the Mount Semeru eruption disaster. 

The post has drawn criticism from netizens.  

This selfie phenomenon at the disaster site isn't the first time happened. In general, this phenomenon is similar to the concept of dark tourism. 

What is dark tourism? 

Dark tourism is a tourist activity that is generally carried out in places where past tragedies have occurred.

According to the lecturer of Sustainable Tourism at Gadjah Mada University, Rucitarahma Ristiawan, in addition to economic recovery, a location is categorized as a dark tourism site if it includes educational motives. 

According to Ristiawan, anyone can categorize a place as a dark tourism area. 

However, the most important thing is how to package it. Do not let a place be categorized as a dark tourism area just for entertainment purposes. 

This is because visiting the site of the former tragedy with a tourist destination will always be a sensitive issue if it is not packaged properly. 

"Anyone can do it, but what is the intention? Don't just be entertainment," said Ristiawan.

According to her, there are at least three important elements that need to be considered if you want to categorize a place as dark tourism, both in terms of visitors and managers.

The three elements are ethics, morals, and education. 

Monday (12/13/2021), one of the videos circulating on social media showed several people posing in the area where Mount Semeru erupted. 

One woman, for example, was seen posing in an area covered in ash and another woman preparing to take pictures.

In another corner, still from the same video, three women can be seen walking in the same area.

In fact, near them they could see white smoke from volcanic material that was still billowing.

They wore sunglasses, casual clothes, and walked close together. 

In addition, Plt. Head of the Center for Disaster Data and Information at the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), Abdul Muhari, also said that this has the potential to disturb officers or volunteers who are working to find victims. 

Because, in that location there is still the potential for aftershocks to occur. When that situation occurs, the evacuation process needs to be carried out quickly. 

(lia)