The Stone Arch Bridges of Rize in Tour Guide Narratives

Tourist guides are key actors in shaping the narrative of a place. In historical heritage sites such as the stone arch bridges of Rize, a guiding approach that brings the past to life through storytelling, rather than merely conveying structural information, facilitates tourists' emotional and intellectual engagement with the site. In this context, narrative strategies such as storytelling significantly enhance the memorability and appeal of touristic experiences. This study investigates how professional tourist guides narrate the stone arch bridges of Rize, which strategies they adopt, how tourists perceive these narratives, and what suggestions guides offer for improving the promotion of such sites. Conducted through a qualitative research method and a phenomenological design, the study analyzes semi-structured interviews with experienced guides using descriptive analysis. Findings reveal that guides integrate historical, architectural, and folkloric elements in their narratives and adapt their strategies according to the tourist profile. Storytelling and visually oriented content for social media emerge as central tools in both guiding and promotion. While participants emphasize the cultural heritage value of the bridges, they also point out the inadequacy of current promotional efforts and tourist interest. Accordingly, the study suggests reconfiguring guiding narratives and strengthening digital promotion strategies.