LORENCOVÁ, H. -- SLEZÁČKOVÁ, T. -- SCHNEIDER, J. Profile of visitors to the Moravian Karst PLA as a basis for solving visitors impacts on nature protection. In Proceedings from IX. International Conference on Applied Business Research ICABR 2014. 2014. Profile of visitors to the Moravian Karst PLA as a basis for solving visitors impacts on nature protection Helena LORENCOVÁ Tereza SLEZÁČKOVÁ Jiří SCHNEIDER Abstract: The article presents habits and activities of visitors to the Moravian Karst PLA in relation to potential and actual impacts of recreation on protected areas and ecosystems. Methodology of the work is based on a standard questionnaire survey, conducted in the summer and autumn of 2013. The objectives of the survey were to find recreational activities, habits and preferences of visitors to PLA Moravian Karst in relation to nature and landscape protection and secondary also regional development. The length of stay in the summer and autumn survey differs significantly. In autumn there are the most frequent one day trips, and if tourists stay for several days, then usually only for a weekend. While in summer they are here for a longer period of time. Visitor survey shows that most tourists do not feel limited by conservation measures. Key words: Outdoor recreation, tourism, nature protection, visitor impact, management of protected areas, ecosystem services Introduction The increasing demands of tourists burden negatively the territory beyond its potential and can lead to negative impacts on nature protection. Specific natural environment of karst areas reacts sensitively to the activity of socio-economic sphere. Given that in karst landscapes there are unique karst shapes unique vegetation and many other unique features, manifesting a need for maintaining at least the damaged area. On the other hand, the development of human society and the related tourism and recreation, is manifested by penetration into the karst landscape. Therefore, it is necessary to regulate the negative impacts of tourism on nature protection, which are caused by recreational activities. Manifestations of intense traffic and recreational activities can be divided into several groups (Schneider, Lorencová 2014): 1. visible (observable) a. soil erosion due to intense trampling (including cycling, riding (horses) and driving motor vehicles) i. Official (marked) trails ii. uncontrolled ("wild", "black") trails b. fireplaces c. litter d. faeces e. acts of vandalism i. damaged living and non-living components of the ecosystem ii. damaged recreation infrastructure