FROM THE CONSEQUENCES OF A NUCLEAR PAST TO THE PROMOTION OF A NUCLEAR-FREE TOURISM IMAGE: THE MEDIATION HUB AS AN INSTITUTIONAL MECHANISM

Abstract

The research investigates how ex-nuclear territories could be reoriented to become vivid «nuclear-free» tourism destinations by creating mediation nodes which incorporate the principles of heritage protection, civic involvement and sustainable development. The research objective is to determine strengthening strategies for marketing disused nuclear places, analyze the actor network of stakeholders accelerating place development through tourism and build a framework on mediation hubs as nodes between needs and constraints, innovation offers and concepts of destination. Through an integrated methodological approach rooted in archival and critical literature review the study interrogates theoretical and empirical applications of nuclear heritage on peacebuilding practice/gaming diverse economies. Findings indicate that successful mediation hubs emphasize open dialogue, strong tailoring of existing nuclear facilities for new uses, and structured development of community capacity. Such provision leads to enhanced hosting populations' visiting experiences, increased social cohesion and regionally economic sustainability. The results highlight how mediation sites have the capacity to transform elements of nuclear legacies into symbols of growth and regeneration. The research contributes to academia by providing insights into heritage management, sustainable tourism and post-conflict recovery and applying it in practice with implications for policy makers drawing from developing mediation-based tourism by reinforcing nuclear-free identities.