Disaster Tourism and Haiyan/ Yolanda Typhoon

Abstract

Tourism connected with natural disasters has no special bibliography, even the expression has no clear definition in Hungary – despite the fact that there are several experts of geography of tourism. Contrary with this status in Hungary it is a special field in the United Kingdom with exact definitions and several subcategories (grief tourism, disaster tourism, dark tourism, thanatourism). Universities, research institutes have been dealing with this issue, making analysis in this matter. Through the case study of Yolanda typhoon we have tried to clarify this phenomenon which generates a lot of moral and ethical questions – since the victims also have the right for human dignity. The high intensity (8,1 degree in the Dvorak hurricane intensity scale) typhoon called Haiyan (or Yolanda by the local people) reached the Philippines in November of 2013. The official death toll of the disaster raised to 6.201 people while 1.785 people has been registered as missing. The typhoon claimed not only human life, but also caused huge devastation in the country's infrastructure, among others the international airport of Tacloban had been completely destroyed which finally made the arrival of rescue forces and aid cargo impossible. The event has attracted the interest of a disaster tourist. World Tourist Organisation website encourages travelers to visit the disaster-hit areas, as this will help the recovery of the local economy of the country. In Hungary there are only negative associations to disaster tourism – while there are positive examples all around the world: the incomes of this kind of tourism will be spent for reconstruction. International (NATO, EADCRC, UN, OCHA etc.), local organisations, official, civil rescue and relief organizations take important role in rescue and reconstruction work.