185 For mines currently in operation, closure regulations must be updated to include incentives allowing mining operators to repurpose certain components—such as camps, interpretation centers, observation decks, access points, or auxiliary facilities—for tourism. This should be done provided that physical, chemical, and hydrological stability is ensured, and there are no risks to human health or the environment. Currently, the regulations allow for certain subsequent uses of the land or facilities, but do not explicitly address mining tourism as a specific objective within closure plans; therefore, it is necessary to clarify this possibility in the sectoral regulations (Supreme Decree No. 006-2025-EM; Supreme Decree No. 037-2017-EM). While sectoral regulations on mine closure have been updated through 2025, the same is not true for regulations on the closure of mining environmental liabilities, the last substantial amendment to which dates back to 2009. Furthermore, even in recent updates to the Regulations for Mine Closure, references to subsequent use remain primarily associated with land use or public interest purposes, without explicitly identifying mining tourism as a conversion alternative (Ministry of Energy and Mines, 2025). Therefore, it would be appropriate to incorporate a regulatory provision recognizing this possibility, always under verifiable conditions of safety, physical stability, and sustainability. Regarding the Regulations on the Closure of Mining Environmental Liabilities, the 2009 amendments introduced concepts such as alternative use and reuse, promoting private-sector participation in the remediation of areas with mining environmental liabilities (Supreme Decree No. 003-2009-EM). However, for the alternative use of a liability for tourism or cultural purposes, it would be advisable to consider an amendment allowing the application to depend not only on the local government but also on the mining company, the regional government, or other interested parties, provided there is coordination with the competent authority and participation by the local community. Greater coordination is also required among entities linked to the mining, tourism, and cultural sectors, such as the Peruvian Association of Engineers (CIP), the Peruvian Institute of Mining Engineers (IIMP), universities in the region, the National Society of Mining, Petroleum, and Energy (SNMPE), the Congress of the Republic, regional governments, the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MINEM), the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (MINCETUR), and the Ministry of Culture, through their regional offices. This coordination would make it possible to identify areas with tourism potential, define responsibilities, channel investment, and ensure that the transition is not limited to isolated initiatives. Furthermore, given that Law No. 32392 designates tourism as an activity of national interest and a priority policy of the State, consideration could be given to including a representative from the mining sector in the tourism sector’s consultative bodies, particularly when addressing mining-oriented destinations or redevelopment projects. This would allow for the coordination of tourism investment promotion, as provided for in Law No. 32392, with mining tourism initiatives promoted in conjunction with regional and local governments (Congress of the Republic, 2025).
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