Body and Mind in Virtual Dark Tourism Experiences and Artwork Creations: Embodied Cognition Reaction Perspectives

Abstract Dark tourism experiences visualized in destinations evoke diverse tourist experiences, triggering negative emotions and offering insights into historical events. Embodied cognition reactions prompt distinct expressions, reflections, and artwork creation, which can leverage Virtual Reality in tourism and augment dark experiences for distant tourists. This study examines embodied cognition reactions in virtual dark tourism with 32 participants, investigating their responses to narratives and auditory stimuli while impacting artwork. Results show amplified affective experiences via added auditory stimuli and cognitive experiences influenced by narratives. Post-experience, participants manifest their encounters in artworks, reflecting body-mind links.