More than four decades after the notorious Jonestown Massacre claimed over 900 lives in the jungles of Guyana, the site is now reopened to tourists.
In November 1978, cult leader Jim Jones ordered his followers to murder a US congressman and several journalists before persuading them to drink cyanide-laced punch.
Is it appropriate for tourists to visit a site marked by such profound tragedy?
He claimed that the drink would give them entry into paradise.
The site remained closed until recently when a local travel agency, Wanderlust Adventures, decided to transform the massacre site into a tourist destination.
The tour group promises an overnight experience that explores the tragic events while paying tribute to the victims.
On Wednesday morning’s episode of The Briefing, we sat down with tour organiser from Wanderlust Adventures, Roselyn Sewcharran, to unpack it all.
Ms Sewcharran, founder of Wanderlust Adventures, hopes the tours will bring understanding of the 1978 tragedy.
She said that many survivors were misunderstood and overlooked by society, often being unfairly portrayed as fools who fell for a scam.
“We want to make sure that the people who lost their lives are remembered and honoured,” she said.
“A lot of the locals in Port Kaituma met the people there and realised that they were genuinely good people that just basically fell in the wrong hands and believed in the wrong person,” she added.
For $650 USD, visitors will journey into the northern Guyanese jungle, exploring the abandoned Jonestown commune and the nearby airstrip where US Congressman Leo Ryan was ambushed and killed.
The itinerary also includes a stop in the remote village of Port Kaituma, which served as Jonestown’s main supply route.
However, there are rising questions about the ethics of visiting such sites of tragedy, with some arguing it is a way to learn from history, others view it as insensitive.
“If you’re curious about Jonestown and you’ve ever wondered why and how, this is your opportunity to explore those questions in a meaningful way.”
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