This book investigates the complex, often paradoxical relationship between the tourism industry and the presence or aftermath of armed conflict. The authors, Richard W. Butler and Wantanee Suntikul, utilize a multidisciplinary approach to examine how destinations navigate the transition from conflict zones to tourist attractions. They argue that tourism can serve as both a catalyst for peace-building and a mechanism for the exploitation of traumatic history, presenting a framework for understanding the ethics and economics of 'dark tourism' and post-conflict development.

Experts in the field of tourism studies recognize this work as a foundational text for understanding the intersection of geopolitics and leisure travel. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose and the comprehensive nature of the case studies provided.