Obstacles to the touristification of historical borders

Bibliographic Data

ID5877085
AuthorsPetr Marek (0000-0002-9547-6903, Department of International Relations and European Studies Faculty of Social Studies, Masaryk University Brno Czech Republic, corresponding author)
Year2025
Volume191
Issue4
Publication date2025-10-24
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueGeographical Journal (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0016-7398 • E-ISSN: 1475-4959
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/geoj.70054
OpenAlexW4415534461
LanguageEN
References cited63

Historical boundaries often play a crucial role in shaping regional identities and can be significant tourist attractions. Despite a long tradition of researching borders in tourism, current studies on historical (particularly former de jure administrative and state) boundaries as tourist attractions are insufficient. Hence, this article aims to help fill this lacuna by investigating obstacles to the commodification of historical borders in tourism. A fruitful distinction between two types of historical boundary - relict and phantom borders - is proposed: the relict border refers to a boundary itself (or its relicts in the landscape) which may unite people through tourism, whereas the phantom border continues to divide somehow dissimilar ( phantom ) regions. Since different people may generally interpret the historical boundary differently, it is crucial to ask ordinary, local people about their perceptions of such a boundary, as it may prevent and resolve potential conflicts among stakeholders. Hindrances to the touristification of historical boundaries are investigated using the boundary between the Czech historical lands of Bohemia and Moravia as an example, asking 454 residents of the historical borderland about the functions and meanings they associate with this boundary. The Bohemian-Moravian boundary may be seen as both a relict border, since it persists and manifests itself in the landscape, and a phantom border, since it separates Bohemia and Moravia with unique regional identities. Two fundamental obstacles to this historical border's commodification in tourism are revealed: an ignorance of its location and a perceived negative meaning associated with Moravian regionalism or even separatism among some respondents. Although the result is context-dependent, it implies that concerning historical boundary touristification in general, people must first learn (or refresh their knowledge about) where a historical boundary lies, consider the potentially negative meanings (fears) associated with such a border, properly evaluate the consequent threats, and prevent any future negative impacts

Cross-Border Cooperation and Integration · Cultural Heritage Management and Preservation · Diverse Aspects of Tourism Research

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