Astrotourism for Socioeconomic Development Traditionally, astrotourism has been a niche pursuit, centered around scientific exploration and specialized equipment. However, this narrow focus has limited its potential to drive socioeconomic development in rural communities. Our approach is a radical departure from the norm. We believe that by reimagining astrotourism as an extension of ecotourism and cultural […]
Author Archives: joy
The OAD is delighted to officially welcome Dr. Charles Takalana in his role as our new Deputy Director, effective May 1, 2024. Prior to joining the OAD, Dr. Takalana served as the Head of Secretariat for the African Astronomical Society (AfAS). In this role, he supported the Executive Committee, as well as various committees and […]
astrotourism, Blog
Astrostays: A Community-centred Astro-tourism Model for Creating Sustainable Livelihoods
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The Astrostays model of Astro-tourism aims to achieve sustainable development in remote and rural communities by leveraging astronomy and tourism in conjunction with other elements. In 2019, a pilot project was run in the northern India state of Ladakh where villagers from a remote mountainous community were trained on basic astronomy and telescope operation. They […]