Site of 1978 Jonestown massacre in Guyana to become tourist attraction

[KARAH RUCKER]

THE SCENE OF THE LARGEST MASS-SUICIDE-MURDER IN RECENT WORLD HISTORY IS BEING TRANSFORMED INTO A TOURIST ATTRACTION.

A SOUTH AFRICAN TOUR GROUP IS TURNING THE SITE IN GUYANA, KNOWN AS JONESTOWN, WHERE MORE THAN 900 PEOPLE DIED IN 1978, INCLUDING HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN, INTO A TRAVEL DESTINATION.

THE FIRST TOUR GROUP IS ALREADY SET TO VISIT THE SITE NEXT MONTH.

THE EXPERIENCE IS MEANT FOR SMALL GROUPS AND COSTS 650 DOLLARS.

VISITORS GET AN OVERNIGHT EXPERIENCE MEANT TO EDUCATE THEM ON THE LESSONS OF THE TRAGEDY.

THE TOUR COMPANY’S OWNER SAYS WHILE TRAGIC, JONESTOWN IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE COUNTRY’S HISTORY AND HAS “GLOBAL SIGNIFICANCE.”

WITH HELP FROM THE GUYANESE GOVERNMENT WANDERLUST ADVENTURES WILL TEACH ABOUT “CULT PSYCHOLOGY, MANIPULATION AND ABUSE OF POWER.”

WHILE TAKING PEOPLE TO NOTABLE SPOTS WHERE THE EVENTS OF THE MASSACRE UNFOLDED.

ONCE A COMMUNE FOUNDED BY AMERICAN REVEREND JIM JONES AND HUNDREDS OF HIS FOLLOWERS, THE LIVING COMPOUND WOULD LATER BECOME HOME TO THE JONESTOWN MASSACRE.

AFTER JONES ORDERED HIS FOLLOWERS TO DRINK CYANIDE MIXED WITH A FLAVORED BEVERAGE.

A U-S REPRESENTATIVE AND TWO N-B-C NEWS CREW MEMBERS WERE ALSO KILLED THAT DAY WHEN THEY WERE SHOT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BOARD A PLANE AFTER VISITING THE COMMUNE.

DESPITE THE HISTORY, SOME IN GUYANA ARE UNEASY ABOUT TOURISTS VISITING A SITE WITH SUCH A DARK PAST.

WANDERLUST ADVENTURES DISAGREES.

NOTING, TOURISTS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD PAY TO SEE PLACES LIKE CHERNOBYL AND NAZI CONCENTRATION CAMPS IN POLAND.

ADDING, IT’S “NOT TO DWELL ON THE TRAGEDY” RATHER TO “UNDERSTAND THE EVENTS” AND MAKE SURE “HISTORIES ARE NEITHER REPEATED NOR FORGOTTEN.”

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FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS– I’M KARAH RUCKER.