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

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. • This study presents perspectives on the development of the local economy around a copper mine reopening and tourism • Reopening the copper mine is seen as a saving chance by the locals • The slide towards tourism is difficult as the culture of tourism is recent in the area • Indecision of local community having to choose between copper mine reopening and tourism activities