Transforming Brownfields as Tourism Destinations and Their Sustainability on the Example of Slovakia

Bohuslava Gregorová, Pavel Hronček, Dana Tometzová, Mário Molokáč and Vladimír Čech
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Bohuslava Gregorová: Department of Geography and Geology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica, 97401 Banská Bystrica, Slovakia
Pavel Hronček: Department of Geo and Mining Tourism, Institute of Earth Resources, Faculty of Mining, Ecology, Process Control and Geotechnologies, Technical University of Košice, 04200 Košice, Slovakia
Dana Tometzová: Department of Geo and Mining Tourism, Institute of Earth Resources, Faculty of Mining, Ecology, Process Control and Geotechnologies, Technical University of Košice, 04200 Košice, Slovakia
Mário Molokáč: Department of Geo and Mining Tourism, Institute of Earth Resources, Faculty of Mining, Ecology, Process Control and Geotechnologies, Technical University of Košice, 04200 Košice, Slovakia
Vladimír Čech: Department of Geography and Applied Geoinformatics, Faculty of Humanities and Natural Sciences, University of Prešov, 08116 Prešov, Slovakia

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 24, 1-28

Abstract: This study analyzes the issue of mining brownfields (sites abandoned after the extraction of minerals) in terms of their secondary use after revitalization as potential new sites of mining tourism. In the first part of the paper, we deal with the theoretical basis of the study, the conceptualization of mining brownfields, possibilities for their revitalization, and their sustainability for mining tourism. In the second part, we analyze mining brownfields as devastated mining sites using a questionnaire survey conducted among students of geotourism and geography at three Slovak universities in Košice, Banská Bystrica, and Prešov. The result of our several years of field research was a database of mining brownfields in Slovakia. According to our findings and the latest theoretical and methodological literature about other types of brownfields, we compiled a comprehensive definition of mining brownfields. The questionnaire survey confirmed that mining brownfields are interesting destinations for (mining) tourism with long-term sustainability. The equipment of the services did not directly determine the number of visitors, who did not perceive the risk and danger of visiting mining brownfields.

Keywords: brownfields; postmining areas; derelict areas; revitalization; tourism; evaluation; sustainability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:24:p:10569-:d:464005

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