Mining site living with communities: geological and cultural landscapes for future industrial heritage tourist attraction (case from the Northern Thailand)

Abstract

This article proposed the potentiality of a mine site as a significant geological resource and its industrial elements and associated landscapes and values, to become a mining heritage tourist attraction. The mine site as the case study is located in northern part of Thailand. Initially, the study utilized documentary research, followed by field surveys for physical records, and it was supplemented by in-depth interviews with key informants working in the related divisions of the studied mine’s organization. A focus group discussion was organized with 20 local participants living in proximity to the mine site. The findings revealed the potential of mining heritage tourism existed, and conveyed that the mine could step forwards developing itself as a mining heritage tourism site, with different features covering an energy park and outdoor museum of machinery, a bike park, and a cultural space holding culture and recreational events; whose narratives should be interpreted in align of the mine’s industrial and associated cultural landscapes. Limitations for future development were also addressed.