Tourists' interest in places associated with death and tragedy may also be related to educational goals [9]. Curiosity and the need to learn and understand are entwined. Dark tourism develops curiosity and satisfies the desire for knowledge of past suffering and pain [26].

The primary objective of "dark tourism" (visiting sites associated with death, disaster, and tragedy) is education, remembrance, and historical reflection. While critics often dismiss it as "macabre curiosity," serious dark tourism aims to help visitors understand the "why" and "how" behind human-made tragedies (like Auschwitz or Chernobyl) or natural disasters (like the 9/11 Memorial or Pompeii). By experiencing these locations in person, tourists can achieve a sense of "thanatopsis"—the contemplation of mortality—that photos or textbooks cannot provide. Another objective is often the preservation of history; the revenue generated from dark tourism frequently goes toward the maintenance of memorials and the ongoing education of future generations to ensure "never again." In many cases, it also serves as a form of catharsis for survivors or relatives of victims. Ethical dark tourism emphasizes "reverence over spectacle," transforming a site of immense suffering into a platform for global awareness, international sympathy, and a deeper understanding of the human condition.