Mines and quarries - Industrial heritage tourism

This article explores the tourism potential of industrial sites in general and more specifically of mining areas. Such tourism attractions could be included within the broader framework of heritage tourism. Limited attention has, however, been focused on them, unlike other better-known and developed forms of heritage tourism. The article examines the importance and perception of mines and quarries as foci for industrial heritage tourism and its expansion during the last decades. It discusses a typological framework of industrial heritage sites; and to offer a vision of the different consideration of this industrial heritage, the article concludes with case studies from Wales and Spain.