Developing Sustainable Tourism in Mining Heritage Sites: Finding Equilibrium between Conservation and Visitor Engagement at Dhori Mines, India

Using quantitative data from visitor surveys, Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), and stakeholder perspectives, this paper investigates the growth of sustainable tourism at Dhori Mines, a noteworthy mining heritage site (MHS) in India. The survey reveals that ۸۲% of visitors value a site's heritage value and prefer immersive experiences that highlight its cultural and historical significance, highlighting the complex relationship between conservation efforts and visitor engagement. The EIA revealed that ۶۸% of regions experienced moderate to severe environmental degradation, and water contamination increased by ۲۲% since baseline measurements. The findings suggest targeted measures to reduce environmental effects and encourage ethical tourism, emphasizing the importance of inclusive decision-making and collaborative governance in balancing conservation objectives with visitor satisfaction. Developing tailored visitor experiences, implementing sustainable practices based on EIA data, and enhancing community participation are merely some of the important recommendations made in the paper's conclusion. The research provides managers and policymakers with evidence-based recommendations for preserving the environmental sustainability and cultural integrity of MHSs like Dhori Mines, contributing to the growing knowledge on sustainable heritage tourism. Future research prospects include long-term monitoring of environmental impacts, assessing socio-economic outcomes for local communities, and conducting comparative studies across different MHSs.

کلیدواژه ها:

Dhori mines ، Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) ، Heritage tourism ، Mining heritage ، Sustainable Development