Mass Tourism Development in Dolní Morava, Czech Republic: Balancing in Between Nature Protection and Short-Term Economic Gains

Summary A case study of recent nature-based tourism development in Dolní Morava Municipality in the Czech Republic is presented here. Local adaptations characterising recent developments in nature-based outdoor tourism in the municipality show signs of core-periphery inequalities being reinforced. This process is characterised by the lessening of control in both planning and management of the rapid and poorly executed construction of spectacular attractions in the unique natural landscapes. This development disregards the needs of the local community as well as undermining nature protection due to the exploitive character of mass-tourism development in the area. Short-term economic gains have dictated the direction of this development, disregarding local social and environmental sustainability. What is more worrying, the results of the tourism development are not evaluated critically, but instead are about to be copied and replicated by the cross-border region on the Polish side. Thus, turning our attention to the case of tourism development of Dolní Morava contributes to a critical debate concerning the role of tourism in the well-being of local public and private stakeholders and residents, as well as the country’s natural environment. Moreover, we would like to highlight an urgent need for repositioning of the role played by private actors in providing the long-term future of regional transformation and restructuring of one of the best-preserved natural environments of Central Europe. Information © The Authors 2025