Social imaginaries of tourists in the ruins of Armero – Tolima

Abstract

Armero is a municipality located in the department of Tolima, Colombia, framed in the tragedy of the disaster that occurred on November 13, 1985. Hence, the development of this research focuses on inquiring why the tourist chooses to visit the municipality and his thoughts about dark tourism. The objective is to analyze the social imaginaries and the perception of the tourist, in a place mourned by events that triggered more than twenty-five thousand deaths. For this purpose, surveys were applied to 49 people who have visited the ruins of Armero, showing the interest of the participants in the places where dark tourism is practiced. As well as the feelings that the place produces, generating empathy with the locals. Finally, it was concluded that dark tourism in Armero can be a window to enter the practice with elements of sustainability and ethics to promote the memory of the territory.

Armero is a small town located in the department of Tolima, Colombia, affected because of the tragedy and disaster that occurred on November 13, 1985. Therefore, the development of this research focuses on inquiringwhy the tourist chooses to visit the municipality and his thoughts about dark tourism. The objective is to scrutinize the social imaginaries and the perception of the tourist, in a place mourned by events that triggered more than twenty-five thousand deaths. To achieve this, surveys were applied to 49 people who have visited the ruins of Armero, showing the interest of the participants in the places where dark tourism is practiced. As well as the feelings that the place produces, generating empathy with the locals. Finally, it was deduced that Dark Tourism in Armero could serve as a gateway to engage in practices infused with sustainability and ethics, thereby promoting the memorialization of the territory.

Armero é um município localizado no departamento de Tolima, Colômbia, marcado na tragédia do desastre ocorrido em 13 de novembro de 1985. Além disso, o desenvolvimento desta investigação se concentra em Indagar por que o turista eleito visita o município e seus pensamentos sobre Turismo escuro. O objetivo é analisar os imaginários sociais e a percepção do turista, em umlugar enlutado por aqueles que desencadeiam mais de veias mil mortes. Para isso, se aplicam perguntas a 49 pessoas que visitaram as ruínas de Armero, mostrando o interesse dos participantes pelos lugares onde se pratica oturismo escuro. Assim como as sensações que produzem o lugar, gerando empatia com os lugares. Finalmente, concluiu-se que o turismo escuro em Armero pode ser uma janela para ingressar na prática com elementos de sustentabilidade e ética para promover a memória do território.