The Minister of Tourism, Patricia de Lille, welcomes the
Cabinet’s concurrence with the National Astro-Tourism
Strategy. This strategy aims to enhance the performance
of South Africa’s astronomy tourism sector through
infrastructure developments and improvements, optimal
functioning of various streams of astronomy with tourism
offerings, and boosting transformation by enhancing the
livelihoods of local communities.
Minister De Lille and the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Blade Nzimande jointly launched the Draft National Astro-Tourism Strategy in Carnarvon, Northern Cape Province, on World Tourism Day, 27 September 2024. Following public consultation, the strategy was presented to the Cabinet, which approved the strategy for implementation.
South Africa is the first African country to develop a National Astro Tourism Strategy. Its pillars are infrastructure development, optimising astronomy-tourism streams, public-private partnerships, inclusive tourism, and transformation.
South Africa is gaining an increased global competitive advantage due to the following key critical factors:
- The majority of cloudless skies provide a unique tourism experience for skygazing (optical astronomy);
- Quality Dark skies (Low Light Pollution) and Radio quiet zones over large areas of the country, especially in rural tourism destinations;
- The Southern Skies Advantage (South Africa is favourably positioned to many celestial phenomena that cannot be seen from the Northern Hemisphere);
- Four of the world’s best-preserved meteorite impact craters are found in South Africa (Unique Multi-Science Offerings);
- Host two of the globe’s most significant astronomy initiatives, the SKA and the SALT.
Appreciation is given to all the astronomy and tourism stakeholders, as well as the Northern Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism, for their invaluable input into developing and implementing this National Astro-Tourism Strategy.
This strategy positions South Africa as an inclusive Astro tourism sector that will yield sustainable benefit-sharing opportunities by maximising marketing efforts and enhancing visitor experience. The gallery in the skies, with its cosmic wonder, enhances the experience that is uniquely South African. A tourism star is born!
For Media Enquiries:
Ms Tasneem Carrim
Chief Director: Communications (Spokesperson)
Department of Tourism
Tel: +27 82 4679227
Email: tcarrim@tourism.gov.za
For more information on the National Astro-Tourism Strategy:
Enquiries about the strategy: callcentre@tourism.gov.za