Landscape interpretation, geology and mining history are being successfully used to explore options for sustainable community tourism product development._x000D_
Recent work by the author in Europe and Australia has indicated the value of adding and producing interpretive information about mine and quarry locations - both active and inactive. This work has allowed for the branding and development of new sustainable community tourism products based on the landscape, folklore, mine and geological heritage._x000D_
Communities in rural areas are seeking new opportunities to sustain their local economies. Using a relatively new phenomenon called geotourism as a starting point, they have developed themed products connected to walking/cycling guides, interpretive panels and visitor centres. These themes can be linked to geology, archaeology, botany, local history and to industrial heritage sites such as old mines, to generate local employment. This new geotourism approach has successfully brought a new and greater audience to discover the value of geology and mining history._x000D_
Communities have established a unique place for themselves within the tourism marketplace using the geotourism brand. Other communities with an established tourism product are also now using geological and mine heritage via geotourism to rebrand and meet changing global trends._x000D_
The geotourism approach has allowed for positive collaboration among communities, service providers, local and government authorities to channel tourist revenues into rural communities. The pooling of resources under the banner of geotourism has led to cost-effective marketing, targeting and promotion of products using multimedia and web sites._x000D_
Geotourism has emerged strongly in Europe, North America and China in the last decade. The Australian minerals industry now has an opportunity to implement this new branding concept to assist and benefit the communities in which they run their activities. Communities can also take advantage of the potential to develop a sustainable geotourism business around a past or present mineral industry in their vicinity._x000D_
FORMAL CITATION:Maher, P, 2009. Interpreting the story of the mining landscape - using geotourism for sustainable community development, in Proceedings Seventh International Mining Geology Conference 2009, pp 77-80 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).