The South American nation of Guyana is exploring the possibility of turning the infamous Jonestown site into a tourist attraction. The location is known for one of the most tragic mass deaths in modern history. This initiative aims to transform the site of unimaginable tragedy into an educational destination, potentially boosting Guyana’s tourism sector.
Rose Sewcharran, director of Wonderlust Adventures, expressed hope for the project, stating, “We think it is about time. This happens all over the world. We have multiple examples of dark, morbid tourism around the world, including Auschwitz and the Holocaust museum.” The company envisions offering guided tours that would provide historical context and insight into the events that unfolded at Jonestown.
The History Of Jonestown
On November 18, 1978, more than 900 members of the Peoples Temple cult, led by Jim Jones, died in a mass murder-suicide that shocked the world. The tragedy occurred after Jones, facing increasing scrutiny and pressure, ordered his followers to drink a cyanide-laced fruit punch. The event claimed the lives of hundreds of children. It remains one of the largest single losses of American civilian life in a deliberate act until the September 11 attacks.
Unsurprisingly, some have mixed reactions to the proposal. While some see it as an opportunity for education and remembrance, others view it as potentially exploitative and disrespectful to the victims and their families. Jordan Vilchez, a survivor who narrowly escaped the massacre, expressed conflicting emotions about the plan. “I just feel like any situation where people were manipulated into their deaths should be treated with respect,” she said. Still, she acknowledged Guyana’s right to develop tourism around the site.
Critics, including Professor Neville Bissember from the University of Guyana, have raised concerns about the ethical implications of such a venture. In a published letter, Bissember questioned the appropriateness of promoting a site associated with “death by mass suicide and other atrocities and human rights violations” as a tourist destination.
However, despite the controversies, the Guyanese government appears supportive of the initiative. Tourism Minister Oneidge Walrond has supported the project, drawing parallels with other countries that have successfully developed tourism around sites of historical tragedies, such as Rwanda’s approach to genocide memorials.
