Marijana Kalčić,

Director, Kvarner Tourist Board

Marijana Kalčić is a tourism professional with more than 20 years of experience in destination management, tourism product development, event organisation, gastronomy, cultural heritage and international cooperation.

A key focus of her work is the development of gastronomy as an essential part of destination identity and authentic visitor experiences, connecting local cuisine, producers, chefs, tradition and cultural heritage.

She is the author of Matuljicious, a destination programme that combines gastronomy, education and outdoor experiences, as well as Matuljicious International, which connects Croatian and international chefs, sommeliers, producers and destinations through gastronomic collaborations.

Marijana also develops gastronomic and experience-based projects such as Bike & Taste, Party lokalnih okusa and the Festival pusne hrani. She participates in Interreg and Horizon Europe projects focused on sustainable destination development, cultural and creative tourism, gastronomy and authentic local experiences.

She holds a master’s degree in Tourism and Hospitality Economics, specialising in Event and Leisure Management, and is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Sustainable Development Management at the Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management in Opatija.

Her work focuses on gastronomy as a way to discover a destination through its people, landscapes, traditions, heritage and way of life.