Astrotourism for a better world

Our mission is to leverage the powerful intersection of astronomy and tourism to drive global socioeconomic development.

What we Offer

Model to stimulate local growth and opportunities for communities in rural areas.

Incentive to preserve and safeguard our natural and cultural heritage.

Explore astrotourism offerings globally

Explore different astrotourism offerings around the world, categorised by the types of activities offered.

Stargazing Tours icon
Observatory facilities
Local Astronomy Festival or Events Icon
Cultural Astronomy
Celestial Events Icon
Camping on Glamping Experiences Icon
Astronomy Lectures or Talks Icon

Blog

Evaluating Astronomy-for-Development Projects

In the recent issue of the IAU Office of Outreach’s Communicating Astronomy with the Public [...]

17
Jun
OAD attends National Astro-Tourism Stakeholder Workshop in South Africa

Members of the OAD team participated in the National Astro-Tourism Broader Stakeholder Workshop held on [...]

21
Apr
Culture, Astronomy, and Community. A conversation with a Social Anthropologist.

For the April edition of the Full Moon Mashup series, we had a deeply reflective [...]

11
Apr
Conversation with Anthropologist Dr. Hanna Nieber

The convergence of astronomy and anthropology illuminates humanity’s longstanding utilisation of the night sky as [...]

04
Apr
SALT telescope in Sutherland South Africa
Full Moon Mashup Recap: Exploring the Impact of Mega Astronomy Infrastructure on Rural Communities

In March, we hosted another engaging edition of the Full Moon Mashup series, featuring a [...]

17
Mar
The Potential of Astrotourism in Africa

OAD remote fellow, Samyukta Manikumar will be giving a talk at the African Astronomical Society [...]

17
Mar
Astro4Dev at the AfAS 2025 Conference

The OAD will be hosting a special session at the African Astronomical Society (AfAS) Conference [...]

13
Mar
Astro4dev Full Moon Mashup: Dr Daniel Mokhohlane – Impact of Mega Astronomy Infrastructures on rural development

Mega astronomy infrastructures, such as large telescopes and observatories, have a profound impact on rural [...]

28
Feb