The coal mine (RUP) and the thermal power plant in Pljevlja have a chance to use the potential for the development of mining tourism, that is, to attract tourists interested in minerals, different types of landscapes, machinery used in mining, but also tourists who are simply curious when it comes to mining.
This is what Milica Mitrović, who recently obtained her master's degree at the IULM University in Milan with the highest grade on the topic "Cultural Regeneration for the Just Transition in Montenegro: focus on mining tourism," said in an interview with "Vijesta". on Mining Tourism" within the program "Hospitaliy and Tourism Management".
She has a master's degree in Montenegro related to the field of mining tourism, and she attended basic studies in Rome, master's degrees in Milan and Florida.
He speaks five world languages - English, Italian, Russian, Spanish and French.
She told "Vijesti" that she decided to return to Montenegro because she wants to get involved and support the creation of strategies and directions for the development of our country as a sustainable destination, because we have great potential for that.
She is currently on an internship at UNDP, and she says that she did not have the opportunity to contact the Government and the management of RUP.
She explained that cities that are dependent on coal and thermal power plants are in trouble when they close, so mining tourism is a chance, that is, an economic alternative for the further development of those regions. In addition, while such mines and thermal power plants are working, they can simultaneously develop this type of tourism.
How did you come up with the idea for your master's thesis?
The starting point on my way to choosing a topic for my master's thesis was my interest in sustainable development, as well as the desire to use the example from Montenegro. Pljevlja immediately stood out as a Montenegrin city in an unenviable situation as far as sustainable development is concerned: high level of pollution, depopulation, unemployment, low tourist activity.
If one were to seriously think about the development of mining tourism, it would be necessary to prepare in terms of collecting quantitative data on the number of tourists, employees, impact on the environment, health, as well as careful development of the tourist product and "value proposition", that is, what would separate this product from others, similar to him
My special attention was drawn to the topic of decarbonization, which is currently very topical in the world due to the problems of global warming and climate change, as well as the energy crisis that arose as a result of the war in Ukraine. The European Union has ambitious goals as far as the green transition is concerned. Namely, to completely eliminate carbon dioxide emissions by 2050. This is a problem for regions economically dependent on coal, thermal power plants and mines, such as Pljevlja. The pressure is great to work on the transition and closure of coal-fired thermal power plants, and coal itself is becoming more and more unsustainable considering the prices set for its discharge, imports and ever cheaper prices of energy produced from renewable sources.
Mining tourism is one of the ways to diversify the economy of such regions, and this has already been proven by examples from Italy, Sweden, and Slovenia, and to facilitate the path of transition in such regions. In my work, I discussed the example of the city of Velenje, which successfully developed mining tourism, diversified the economy and is now on the way to a successful transition.
What is just transition and mining tourism? How are they related?
Regions that are dependent on coal, such as Pljevlja, will have more difficulties to make a green transition, that is, to get rid of CO2 emissions because they are dependent on coal, which is necessary for the operation of thermal power plants, but which is a large source of CO2. Because of this, it is necessary to provide support to these regions in the form of education and training of people for other types of jobs, as well as diversification of the economy. Only in this way will the green transition be fair. Otherwise, after the closure of thermal power plants and coal mines, these people will be left without practically the only source of income.
Mining tourism is classified as cultural tourism because mining and mines are part of the cultural heritage of these places. Velenje in Slovenia is a twin town of Pljevlja that has successfully developed mining tourism
Mining tourism is one way to diversify the economy for which there is potential in mining towns. In fact, it is classified as cultural tourism because mining and mines are part of the cultural heritage of these places. Veljenje in Slovenia is a twin town of Pljevlja that has successfully developed mining tourism. Almost a delegation from Velenje visited Pljevlje as part of an exchange organized by the European Commission, which aims to exchange knowledge between coal regions in Europe, the Western Balkans and Ukraine.
Is it possible to develop mining tourism in Montenegro, in Pljevlja?
There are two mines in Pljevlja: a coal mine and a zinc and lead mine Šuplja stijena where there is an opportunity for the development of this type of tourism.
The "Suplja stijena" zinc and lead mine has a long history. The Saxons mined silver from there. Then there were the Turks and the English. Germans. The mine was officially opened in 1959 and the first people to descend into the mines were local farmers. Today, the underground tunnels are closed, but there is an open pit from which lead and zinc ores are still extracted. However, the mine is not as successful as it used to be and the mining settlement of Sula is slowly deteriorating...
The "Šuplja stijena" mine has the potential to develop tourism, following the example of Slovenia, because it has underground tunnels that, if reopened and reconstructed, could be used for tourist purposes.
The coal mine is different, there is only an open pit mine, there are no tunnels, but the development of turzim here is certainly possible. It is geotourism that attracts so-called "niche tourists" interested in minerals, different types of landscapes, machinery used in mining, but also tourists who are simply curious when it comes to mining...
Of course, if one were to start thinking seriously about the development of mining tourism, preparation would be required in terms of collecting quantitative data on the number of tourists, employees, impact on the environment, health..., as well as careful development of the tourist product and "value proposition", i.e. of what would separate this product from others, similar to it...
Are there barriers to the development of this type of tourism?
Apparently yes: the infrastructure, the fact that the Thermal Power Plant and the Mine will probably continue to operate for many years to come. However, this can be used as an advantage rather than a disadvantage.
Infrastructure is cited as an obstacle to the development of tourism in Pljevlja, but it can actually be thought of as something that can be used to our advantage. For example, taking tourists along these roads is in line with what Montenegro actually promotes, which is that "wild beauty" and that is something that could set us apart, not something that is our shortcoming. Furthermore, the Thermal Power Plant is subject to ecological reconstruction and will continue to operate for many years to come, but mine tourism can be developed in mines that are still functioning, and that might be exactly what would be interesting to tourists and what could make the tourism product unique. Among other things, this would benefit the Coal Mine and the Thermal Power Plant, and it would also show their desire to contribute to sustainable development and prepare the population for a just transition.
If given the chance, he wants to apply the knowledge in Montenegro
You recently returned to Montenegro and started working at UNDP. What motivated you to return and was it a long-term decision?
Initially, nostalgia brought me back from America, first to Europe, namely Italy. After I got a master's degree in tourism management at Rosen College in Orlando and completed a three-month internship at the Marriott Resort in Florida, I found a job as a manager in training at the Sheraton Hotel in Milan. In parallel with my work, I was preparing my master's thesis on the topic of mining tourism and just transition. Collecting information and researching, I realized that I want to get involved and support the creation of strategies and directions for the development of Montenegro as a sustainable destination, because we have great potential for that. It took me a while to make a decision, I quit my job and returned home, not knowing exactly what I was going to do. When I defended my master's thesis in March 2023, an opportunity arose for an internship at UNDP in the field of just transition, and I am extremely happy that I got the opportunity to get involved in the work of this organization. I hope that I will have the opportunity to apply the knowledge I acquired in the world here. I think that for now I want to stay in Montenegro, at least until the internship with UNDP is over, and then everything depends on the opportunities that will arise. I had no communication with the Government and the Coal Mine.
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