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The purpose of this paper is to answer fundamental questions on the perceived value of active senior visitors (55+ years old) in the context of cultural heritage sites, when using immersive technologies, conceptualizing technological experience by illustrating an extended space in the pre, during and post phases of visits. Furthermore, it will reveal a better understanding of digital transformation opportunities and risks in the tourism industry and its related sectors regarding active senior travelers and it will further provide some insights and tools that are required to follow.

Since the authors are studying a population that is thus far not fluent in the means of digital opportunities, the authors will conduct two semi-structured interviews before and after visits to the museums in order to lower the level of emotional bias responses. Moreover, observations of the participants’ interaction with technological devices will be assessed during their visit.

Current findings enrich the theoretical perspective of perceived value. First, they extend our knowledge on the perceived consumers’ value of active senior visitors in the application of immersive technologies pertaining to archeological museums. They also shed new light on the different dimensions of the perceived value (epistemic value, functional value, hedonic value and social value) of active senior visitors concerning museum transformation. Third, they provide an integrative framework for extending the boundaries of the museum technological visit experience, linking the pre-, during-, and post-visit phases.

Having a longitudinal study that evaluates the same population of seniors over a longer period would enhance our understanding of perception and adoption behavior in non-users. It entails the dimensions that are necessary from a theoretical and managerial point of view, thus contributing to strategic planning for museum managers who are planning on going digital in the coming years aiming at creating further value and satisfaction for their active senior visitors to cultural heritage sites.

The majority of research concerning technological developments and experiences to date has focused on holistic views studying different stakeholders’ perspectives or on digital natives’ perception regarding museum digital transformation. However, only few studies have evaluated the perceived value of active senior travelers and their overall satisfaction when visiting museums that became digital.

This study aims to explore how closed factories could be transformed and provide a path for sustainable development for a territory. The authors focus on the case of the Great Mine Serbariu, located in Carbonia (Sardinia), which used to be the largest coal mine in Italy between 1939 and 1964.

The authors adopt a qualitative research design based on an exploratory single-case study, drawing on interviews with the main stakeholders, on a survey conducted among 5,158 visitors, and on administrative documentation of the City Council.

The analysis of the Great Mine Serbariu case showed that the regeneration of an exhausted mine serves a model of sustainable development, especially for the redevelopment of other urban and industrial degraded areas. The Great mine Serbariu was restored and turned into a place of culture, tourism, research and higher education, with the Italian Cultural Centre of Coal Mining (ICCCM) establishing its headquarters in the heart of the former mine. It attracted almost 220,000 visitors, generating both domestic and international tourist flows and making an industrial heritage a real resource for the area.

This article advances the authors’ understanding of how closed industries could become an instrument for sustainable development on the social, economic, touristic and cultural levels. This study would help local governments with examples to enhance the historical resources to create a new identity that led to a sustainable development of an urban landscape, and to create networks with other comparable museums all over Europe to better exploit the touristic and cultural potential.