Dr Mdhluli’s participation in a series of astrotourism-related workshops and strategic meetings during March 2026 contributed to advancing the role of astronomy in sustainable development, tourism innovation, and community engagement. These engagements provided opportunities to share the work of the OAD, strengthen partnerships, contribute to national and regional astrotourism strategies, and support capacity building for practitioners in the sector. The activities also highlighted the growing recognition of astronomy as a driver of socio-economic development, cultural preservation, and wellbeing.
Deep Time Tourism Workshop – 2 March
The engagements began on 2 March with participation in the Deep Time Tourism Workshop hosted by the South African Department of Tourism. The workshop brought together key stakeholders and experts to explore the concept of Deep Time Tourism – a specialised tourism model that highlights the vast temporal scales of human and natural history.
Participants engaged in discussions across three thematic workstreams: palaeontology, geology, and astronomy. The objective of the workshop was to collaboratively develop a framework and implementation plan that integrates science, culture, and sustainability into tourism experiences. By bringing these disciplines together, the initiative seeks to create immersive opportunities for visitors to engage with South Africa’s unique scientific and cultural heritage.
National Astro-Tourism Governance Body Meeting – 3 March
On 3 March, Dr Mdhluli participated in the Annual National Astro-Tourism Governance Body Meeting, which convened stakeholders involved in advancing astrotourism initiatives in South Africa.
During the meeting, Dr Mdhluli presented a global overview of the OAD’s astrotourism-related funded projects, including projects implemented in South Africa. The presentation also highlighted the OAD’s Astronomy for Mental Health flagship project, which explores how engagement with astronomy and the night sky can support mental wellbeing.
In addition, Dr Mdhluli delivered a presentation on a 2026 project jointly funded by the OAD and the Development in Africa with Radio Astronomy (DARA) programme, Astro Tourism for Development: Storytelling, Science, and Socio-Economic Growth in South Africa, outlining the project objectives and its anticipated impact.
Astrotourism Workshop in Botswana – 16–17 March
A 2025 OAD-supported project, AstroGuides: Transforming Tours with Astrotourism (funded by the DARA – Development in Africa through Radio Astronomy), hosted an astrotourism training workshop in Botswana ahead of the 2026 Annual AfAS Meeting. The workshop aimed to introduce professional tour guides and students to astrotourism, with the majority of participants being professional tour guides.
The programme included an introduction to astronomy and the astronomy landscape in Botswana, delivered by the BIUST team. Dr Mdhluli presented an introductory session on astrotourism, while an OAD past fellow delivered a presentation on dark skies. Additional sessions covered Indigenous astronomy and the use of tools such as Stellarium.
Dr Matipon Tangmatitham, coordinator of the Southeast Asia Regional Office hosted in Thailand NARIT, delivered presentations on sky narration, stargazing equipment, and constellations, followed by practical hands-on sessions to reinforce the theory. On the second day, Dr Mdhluli and Samyukta delivered a joint presentation focused on developing and marketing astrotourism products. Participants responded particularly positively to the emphasis on incorporating cultural elements into astrotourism experiences, leading to active engagement and discussion.
A key takeaway from the workshop was the recognition that telescopes are not essential for delivering meaningful astrotourism experiences, addressing a common misconception among participants and reducing a perceived barrier to implementation.
Left: Group photo of participants at the Deep Time Tourism Workshop. Right: Group photo of participants at the National Astro-tourism Strategy Governance Body Meeting. (Photo Credit: Department of Tourism – feature image: Dr Matipon Tangmatitham)