Motivations, behaviours and tourism practices in dark tourism events

The case of heavy metal festivals

Abstract

Heavy Metal festivals as a niche tourism attraction have been developed, and to some extent, its growing popularity is linked to dark tourism. That merits a good amount of investment by destinations. This article intends to explore Heavy Metal festival participants' motivations, behaviours and tourism practices. The methodology comprised semi-structured interviews. The results showed that the main motivations for attending these festivals are music and socialisation. However, the emotional component consists of a vital part for the enjoyment of the experience, as participants seek increasingly authentic and intense sensations. This research provides both a theoretical contribution, by conceptualising Heavy Metal festivals as hybrid dark tourism experiences, and a practical contribution, by offering insights to enhance their appeal and support the diversification of specialised tourism experiences.