The emergence of industrial tourism in post-mining closure areas – Project management models and local practices

Reducing industrial activities has led to the need for identifying and implementing strategies aimed at an economic usage of affected areas pointing to the past industrial age. There are many successful examples globally of using industrial heritage in industrial tourism. In Romania, the achievements are not so advanced, although over time there have been several initiatives to preserve culture, knowledge, tools, equipment, customs, and clothing related to the exploitation of mineral resources. The aim of this paper is to propose a project management model in addressing the needs of communities facing post-mining closure contexts and to examine how an integrated managerial outlook for various stakeholders involved in local tourism portfolios might reach solutions for the ongoing long-term social consequences of mine closures. The paper provides as a case study the transformation of the industrial patrimony of the former Petrila Mining Assembly, which serves as a lesson of industrial archeology, being one of the last ensembles in the area that still retains part of each stage of its evolution. The involvement and contributions of local non-profit organizations, municipalities and local businesses in the emerging of industrial tourism in Petrila are analysed through the proposed managerial model.