Work

Revitalizing post-communist urban industrial areas: Divergent narratives in the imagining of copper mine reopening and tourism in a Romanian town

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: The post-communist period has strongly impacted the former communist Romania's urban industrial areas. Recent debates regarding urban industrial towns in Central and Eastern Europe reveal that their governance has been prone to neglect and that a lack of jobs has led to depopulation, seasonal migration , and a change in local labour skills. Drawing on 20 in-depth interviews with community leaders in Moldova Nouă, Romania, this study presents divergent narratives on the development of the local economy around the reopening of a copper mine and tourism. The findings suggest that, given the town's excellent position on the River Danube and its proximity to the Danube Gorges, tourism is perceived as a long-term solution. However, to date, tourism has not proved to be a major economic engine for the local population but could be of great interest for further local development. On the other hand, although copper mining proved polluting in communist times, some respondents prefer reopening the mines to have better paid jobs.

Source: Cities

DOI: 10.1016/j.cities.2024.105379

Authors: Alexandru Dragan, Remus Creţan, Ioan Sebastian Jucu, Adela Alexandra Hrițcu

Institution: West University of Timişoara

Language: English

Topic: Urbanism, Landscape, and Tourism Studies

Subfield: Cultural Studies

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Decent work and economic growth, Sustainable cities and communities

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,000