Astrotourism is a branch of tourism that focuses on observing the night sky and discovering astronomical events in areas free from light pollution. This type of tourism includes activities designed for viewing natural phenomena such as stars, planets, and celestial landscapes.
Speaking to CNBC-e, Dark Sky Tour co-founder Kadir Uluç stated that they are preparing a roadmap with Türkiye’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Ministry of Industry and Technology to integrate astrotourism into national development goals.
Uluç also revealed that Türkiye’s first “Dark Sky Park”—an area designated to be free from light pollution—is set to be officially announced soon. As modern urbanization increases light pollution and makes stargazing more difficult, astrotourism is rapidly growing worldwide as a way to reclaim the lost beauty of the night sky.
While Africa leads this sector due to its vast low-light regions, with countries like South Africa, Namibia, and Botswana being top destinations for stargazing, Türkiye is also making strides with its first Dark Sky Park and night museum projects.
Kadir Uluç, the co-founder of Türkiye’s first astrotourism company Dark Sky Tour, explained what astrotourism is, Türkiye’s potential in this field, and the projects they are developing with the tourism and industry ministries in an interview with CNBC-e.
What is Astrotourism?
Having worked at TÜBİTAK National Observatory for over 26 years, Uluç explains that while tourism is often associated with sea and sand, astrotourism is a form of travel driven by cultural or scientific curiosity:
“Tourism is generally understood as the movement of large groups of people for a specific purpose. However, since tourism in Türkiye is mainly focused on sun and sea, astrotourism might seem like a unique concept. In reality, it is a movement for cultural or scientific interaction. The rise of modern technology, especially the influence of social media, has significantly boosted awareness of astrotourism since 2020.”
‘Technology is Making Us Lose the Night Sky’
Uluç emphasized that light pollution caused by urbanization has made it increasingly difficult to observe the night sky. He pointed out that modern technological settlements disrupt nature and biological balance, which in turn has led to growing awareness of astrotourism since the 1990s:
“Africa is fortunate in this regard, as it has large areas with little technological development and a low population density. However, as cities expand worldwide, we are losing our connection with the night sky. Artificial lighting in urban areas brightens the atmosphere, making celestial objects harder to see. Until the early 2000s, this issue wasn’t widely acknowledged, but awareness has grown since then. People have realized that large cities not only distance them from the sky but also disrupt their biological clocks. Additionally, excessive artificial lighting affects nocturnal wildlife, causing significant ecological imbalances.”
‘Göbeklitepe Proves How Ancient Astrotourism Is’
Uluç pointed to archaeological findings at Göbeklitepe as evidence that astrotourism dates back thousands of years:
“Göbeklitepe, one of the world’s oldest settlements, was built around 15,000 years ago. Archaeological studies show that its structures were entirely designed around celestial observations. Early civilizations depended on the sky for survival, using the positions of stars to track seasons and develop agriculture. Even the concept of time itself was discovered through astronomical observations. This proves that astrotourism is rooted in ancient human history.”
‘Türkiye’s National Sky Observation Festival is One of the World’s Largest’
Since 1998, TÜBİTAK’s National Sky Observation Festival has been one of the largest stargazing events in the world, attracting nearly 1,000 participants annually with over 18,000 applicants each year.
‘We Are Creating a Roadmap with Government Ministries’
Countries like the U.S., Chile, Spain, and Australia have incorporated astrotourism into their national development plans, with long-term professional roadmaps. Uluç stated that Türkiye is following a similar path by collaborating with the Ministry of Industry and Technology and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism:
“The most significant projects have been developed in Australia and Spain, where they have created 10-year development plans. In Türkiye, we started working on such roadmaps about two years ago. Our goal is to establish Türkiye as a leading country in astrotourism by integrating these projects into national development strategies. Over the past year, we have also been assisting institutions and individuals interested in organizing astrotourism events.”
‘Türkiye’s First Dark Sky Park to Be Announced Soon’
Uluç confirmed that Türkiye’s first Dark Sky Park will be located in Antalya’s İbradı region:
“We have received official certification, but some final procedures need to be completed. This park will be a crucial step in transforming Türkiye’s rural darkness into a sustainable tourism attraction. Since most of our population has migrated to large cities, our rural areas remain naturally dark, which presents a unique tourism opportunity.”
‘Night Museums: A New Form of Astrotourism’
Uluç highlighted night museum tourism as a fascinating aspect of astrotourism, mentioning Afrodisias Ancient City as a successful example:
“Recently, we launched night museum programs at open-air archaeological sites. We pioneered this concept two years ago at Afrodisias Ancient City, proving that ancient sites could be visited at night. Ancient cities were historically aligned with the stars, as Greek mythology’s gods correspond to constellations, and temples were positioned based on the rising and setting of celestial objects. Through night museums, we are reconnecting these ancient sites with the sky, enhancing astronomical awareness among visitors.”
As Türkiye continues to develop its astrotourism sector, these initiatives aim to preserve the natural night sky, promote scientific tourism, and establish the country as a global hub for celestial exploration.
Source: CNBC-e/ Prepared by: İlayda Gök