South Africa’s draft astro-tourism strategy has been gazetted for public comment, marking a significant step forward in the development of the niche sector as a catalyst for rural tourism and agri-tourism growth.
Launched by Minister of Tourism Patricia de Lille, the strategy aims to position the country as a world-class destination for astro-tourism.
Gazetting of the strategy coincided with the Department of Tourism’s World Tourism Day celebrations in the Northern Cape town of Carnarvon on September 27.
“The vision of the strategy is to develop and position an inclusive astro-tourism sector that will yield sustainable benefit-sharing opportunities by maximising marketing efforts and enhancing visitor experiences in South Africa,” said De Lille at the launch.
South Africa is the first African country to launch such a strategy seeking, in particular, to leverage the unspoilt night skies of the Northern Cape, the scientific significance of the province’s ground-breaking Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project and cultural storytelling linked to the celestial realm.
“Here, in the Northern Cape especially, we must use the SKA, astro-tourism, agriculture and cultural offerings as a catalyst to enhance tourism for the benefit of SMEs and rural and traditional communities of the Northern Cape,” said De Lille.
She urged the public, including tourism and astronomy stakeholders, to strengthen the strategy with their input.
“Collaboration and partnerships are critically important to take this work forward. We are thankful for national, provincial and local government working together, as well as the private sector, to ensure sustainable growth and local community development.”
Pillars of the strategy
The strategy – developed in collaboration with the Department of Science and Innovation – is supported by three key pillars:
- Infrastructure development
- Promoting indigenous celestial narratives and human capacity building
- Inclusive tourism growth.
De Lille said South Africa could leverage tourism offerings and experiences from investment in the SKA – the world’s largest radio telescope.
“We want to use the SKA and the astro-tourism strategy as a catalyst to develop the Karoo and provide opportunities for tourism, including agri-tourism, to further develop rural areas.”
The astro-tourism sector of the region is set to further benefit from the planned SKA Carnarvon Exploratorium – an interpretative centre expected to boost science awareness and outreach, education and job creation.
Inclusion of indigenous knowledge systems is a cornerstone of the plan with celestial stories passed down through generations playing a central role in shaping visitor experiences.
De Lille said the strategy also echoes this year’s World Tourism Day theme, “Tourism and Peace”, by aiming to strengthen the connection between astronomy and indigenous celestial narratives. “The astro-tourism strategy also aims to enhance the synergy between humans and conservation and a creative link between the origins of life on earth and the origins of the universe.”
She expanded on tourism’s role in fostering peace.
“Tourism is a powerful tool to break down barriers, defy stereotypes and challenge prejudices.”
The Northern Cape is under-recognised in terms of tourism potential, De Lille added.
“We need to change that because this is a beautiful part of our country. There is so much natural beauty, wonderful people and some of the best cooks of traditional meals. There is also deep culture and history here where communities and traditional groups, like the Komani San, have a wealth of unique knowledge and stories.”
Preserving the night sky
De Lille encouraged the tourism industry to preserve the dark night sky through commitment to the following:
- Use light responsibly: Adopt DarkSky International's Responsible Outdoor Light at Night principles to protect the night-time environment while promoting visual safety with better lighting.
- Consider the environment: Ensure tourism activities and operations do not harm the natural environment including wildlife. Many nocturnal lifeforms rely on natural darkness.
- Consider local communities: Consider the needs and activities of nearby residents and aim to enhance their enjoyment of the night-time environment while minimising negative impacts on communities.
- Respect indigenous cultures: Integrate indigenous knowledge respectfully, collaboratively and sensitively with recognition of its cultural importance.
- Support local economic development: Generate economic benefits for communities.
