1103 from the design and operation of the mine, as advocated by the guidelines of the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM, 2025). This approach helps reduce costs, anticipate risks, and preserve components of heritage or tourism value. It also requires the coordinated participation of the company, the government, and local communities to define objectives, responsibilities, and sustainability mechanisms (Sánchez, Silva-Sánchez, & Neri, 2015). 3. CRITICAL COMPONENTS FOR VIABILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY 3.1. Risk Management: Safety and Environmental Remediation Effective risk management is the starting point for any mining operation conversion project. The abandonment of these facilities entails physical and environmental risks that must be mitigated as a priority, such as unfenced open pits, tunnel collapses, unstable ground, geotechnical instability of tailings piles or waste deposits, and soil and water contamination (Department of Mines, Petroleum and Exploration [DMPE], 2025; Subirón Garay & Alcalde Molero, n.d.). Therefore, any closure plan must ensure the physical, geochemical, and hydrological stability of the site to protect life, health, and the environment, in accordance with the objectives established in Peruvian mine closure regulations (Ministerio de Energía y Minas [MINEM], 2025). In the Peruvian context, the cost of closure can amount to as much as 50% of the initial investment, highlighting the need for technical and financial planning from the earliest stages (IIMP, 2025a). 3.2. Pillars of Socioeconomic Viability The viability of a “mining tourism” project depends not only on physical safety and remediation, but also on complementary and critical socioeconomic factors (SDSN Bolivia, 2024). Among the former factors, the commitment of workers, companies, and the local population stands out, as well as access to basic services, transportation, lodging, and minimum safety conditions. Complementary factors include visual appeal, historical remains, tourist signage, culinary offerings, and other elements that enrich the visitor experience. These factors demonstrate that historical heritage and aesthetic beauty are not sufficient on their own. A site may be attractive, but if it lacks safety, basic services, or community support, its development as a tourist destination will be unviable. Consequently, the sustainability of mining tourism depends as much on its physical attributes as on the “social license” derived from the participation of the local community (SDSN Bolivia, 2024). The levels of priority among these factors reveal a crucial point: the historical heritage and aesthetic beauty of a place are not enough on their own. A site may be visually attractive because of the vestiges of its past, but if it lacks critical safety indicators, such as measures against landslides, or basic infrastructure, such as a continuous supply of water and other basic services, its tourism development will be considered unviable. Therefore, the true sustainability of a mining tourism project is not based solely on its physical attributes, but fundamentally on the project's "social license," which derives from the support and participation of the local community. The conversion is, in essence, a community development project rather than a simple tourism project. Table 1 shows the levels of factors according to the indicator, adding their description and meaning respectively.
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