The Astrotourism Community Exchange 2026 brought together more than 150 participants from across Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America, including researchers, tourism practitioners, educators, cultural practitioners, and community leaders. Hosted by the IAU Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD), the online event provided a platform to explore how astrotourism can contribute to sustainable development, cultural heritage preservation, science engagement, and local economic growth. Participants shared case studies from India, Greece, and South Africa and discussed topics such as community engagement, Indigenous astronomy, dark-sky conservation, partnerships, and the future of the field.
Building on the discussions from the event, the OAD published a preprint, Building a Global Astrotourism Community of Practice Through Astronomy for Development, which presents a thematic analysis of the Community Exchange. The paper identifies five key themes – including community development, cultural heritage, environmental sustainability, accessibility, and conceptual gaps – and argues that astrotourism is evolving into a global community of practice that can advance sustainable development through astronomy.
Access the paper using the link below.