i INDUSTRIAL HERITAGE SUSTAINABLE TOURISM: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE INTEGRATION OF CHILDREN’S EDUCATION AND RECREATIONAL SERVICES AT THE NAVIGATION COLLIERY, CRUMLIN

Abstract

This dissertation is a study of how educational tourism can be applied through the principles of sustainable tourism. It will look to see how educational tourism can be integrated at The Navigation Colliery, which is an old coal mining site in Crumlin, South Wales. GLOFA Navigation Cyf (known as the GLOFA Trust), is currently working on the site carrying out a restoration project which is at an early stage of development. The trust relies on funding and is hoping the site can be restored and brought back into use that is beneficial and sustainable for future generations (GLOFA, 2015). The primary aim of the research project is to discover if this link is viable at The Navigation Colliery and to what extent. It will look to see if the use of industrial heritage can be used to aid this linkage and how this fits in with educational tourism and the principles of sustainable tourism. The research project consists of five main chapters; an introduction, literature review, methodology, analysis of results and conclusion. The research looks at a range of literature that is arranged into four main themes. These are discussed throughout all chapters of the study. The research project undertook primary research through semi-structured interviews which allowed the author to firstly gain strategic ideas, views and opinions as to the viability of the potential linkage of education at The Navigation Colliery site and secondly, to collect reliable informative results. The data collected was achieved through thematic analysis purposive sampling. The results are presented in a qualitative format using quotes from the participants to the interviews. This research project shows that the link of educational tourism at The Navigation Colliery site is viable through various strategies whilst highlighting the considerations to take when implementing sustainable tourisms. It illustrates how industrial heritage and local community play a part in the linkage which is discussed throughout.