Imagine a remote village renowned for its traditional handicrafts and delicious cuisine. By incorporating stargazing into their existing offerings, they can create unforgettable experiences for tourists. Perhaps a guided hike through ancient olive groves culminates in a romantic dinner under the stars, accompanied by live traditional music. Or maybe a local storyteller shares age-old legends while guests marvel at constellations. These authentic experiences, rooted in the community’s identity, are the heart of our approach.
By broadening the scope of astrotourism activities, we’re making it easier for communities to get involved. No longer is it necessary to invest in expensive telescopes or astronomy expertise. Instead, the focus is on creating welcoming and immersive experiences that celebrate the night sky as a shared resource.
This community-centric approach not only benefits local economies but also preserves invaluable cultural heritage and fosters a deeper connection between people and the natural world.
To facilitate this bridge we are trying to build between astronomy and members of the community, OAD fellow Samyukta Manikumar, has put together resources for the Astrotourism Flagship project.
TARGET AUDIENCE:
The resources were created with the following targets in mind:
- Individuals:
Inhabitants of rural, socioeconomically underdeveloped areas. Their strengths are that they generally live in areas with abundant, free dark skies, and possess distinct cultural elements like food, rituals, and way of life.
- Existing Businesses:
Existing tourism businesses who want to implement astrotourism. Their strengths are existing tourism skills, infrastructure, and established logistical elements of experience.
- Communities around Observatories:
Observatories who can help surrounding rural inhabitants create experiences. Their strengths are the ability to provide extended support to rural inhabitants to help them create a night sky experience.
Below are the resources created and freely available:
Contact
Please email us at astrotourism@astro4dev.org
Visit our dedicated astrotourism website for more information, resources and activities.
Astrotourism website