Review article
Rijeka’s Maritime Heritage – Potential for Authentic Tourist Experience
Daniela Gračan
; University of Rijeka, Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Opatija, Croatia
Lidija Bagarić
orcid.org/0000-0002-1203-0050
; University of Rijeka, Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Opatija, Croatia
Dea Dević
orcid.org/0009-0006-5659-3580
; University of Rijeka, Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Opatija, Croatia
*
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
Through its history as a port city, Rijeka has the potential to create authentic stories for an authentic
tourist experience. The effectiveness of storytelling in promoting Rijeka’s maritime heritage is explored
by examining the relationship between the authenticity of the tourist experience, storytelling about
maritime heritage and sharing the tourist experience. An analysis of the content of the official websites
of the destination management and tourism businesses of the city of Rijeka was conducted to examine
the representation of stories about the maritime heritage of the city of Rijeka in public discourse. It
was found that the maritime heritage of the city of Rijeka offers significant potential for the creation of
authentic stories that can promote an authentic experience for tourists through the use of storytelling.
Storytelling is underutilized in the promotion of maritime heritage and the city of Rijeka as a tourist
destination. The revitalization of tourism storytelling by highlighting maritime heritage contributes to
its preservation and creates opportunities for the promotion of the city of Rijeka as a destination with
rich maritime heritage with the participation of tourists as co-creators of an authentic tourist experience
and new technologies as a communication channel for sharing tourist experiences.
Keywords
tourist experience, authentic stories, maritime heritage, city of Rijeka
Hrčak ID:
346341
URI
Publication date:
14.4.2026.
Visits: 310 *