Tijana Rakic

Tijana Rakic is a Lecturer in Tourism and Events at the Brighton Business School, University of Brighton, where she serves as Course Leader for the MSc International Tourism Management and MSc International Event Management programs. She leads the Tourism, Hospitality and Events Research and Enterprise Group and chairs the Geographies of Tourism and Leisure Research Group of the Royal Geographical Society. Her interdisciplinary research focuses on visual cultures of tourism, heritage, national identity, and event studies.

• PhD in Tourism and National Identity (2009, Acropolis, Athens)
• Co-editor, Current Developments in the Geographies of Leisure and Tourism (Routledge)
• Editorial board member: Tourist Studies, Tourism Geographies, International Journal of Tourism Cities

Her research centers on visual and creative methodologies in tourism, particularly how places and identities are represented in promotional materials and media. She explores intersections between tourism, art, heritage, and national identity, often using interdisciplinary and qualitative approaches. Her work emphasizes narrative interpretation and visual analysis to understand tourism experiences and cultural meanings.

The 15 most recent publications reflect a strong focus on visual methods, identity construction in tourism, event studies, and the role of narratives. They span topics such as film-induced heritage tourism, post-conflict destination branding, gender in tourism, and future research agendas in urban tourism. Her methodological innovation is evident in her use of visual and narrative analysis across diverse geographical and cultural contexts.

• Shortlisted for Brighton Students’ Union Award – Course Leader of the Year (2022)
• Regular reviewer for leading journals in tourism and geography
• Member of editorial boards for multiple international journals

Tijana supervises five PhD students on topics related to national identity, Olympic resistance, and visual methods in tourism. She emphasizes research-informed teaching and student engagement. She has also produced two academic documentaries: Visiting the Athenian Acropolis (2008) and Of Holidays and Olives (2006), which have been screened internationally. She leads a dynamic research group and collaborates widely across Europe.