Dark night skies and astronomical heritage are significant to grow Astro-tourism and advancing social and sustainable development. Astro-Tourism is key for observational astronomy and scien-tific development. Africa has a huge cultural and astronomical heritage, as well as an unexplored dark sky which is beneficial for the continent’s economic development. Preserving and protecting the dark night sky and investing in Astro-tourism is central to economic and tourism diversification, with an innovative approach to grow and contribution to Africa’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).Nearly, 10.4% of global GDP and 7% of Africa’s GDP is driven by the tourism sector, according to the 2019 report by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC). Focusing investment on dark sky preservation and integrating Astro-tourism into the mainstream tourism industry will be a crea-tive effort to boost GDP as a new economic diversification. Local and rural community involvement around dark sky sites in Astro-tourism will advance the tourism industry and can be used to create decent job opportunities, improve daily livelihoods and effective work-force, which will ensure eco-nomic development and long-term sustainability.According to the International Dark-Sky Association (IDSA), Africa and South Africa has the oppor-tunity to unlock the many undeveloped dark-sky resources. This shows that Astro-tourism, where dark night skies are a fundamental resource is an available subset of sustainable tourism.South Africa is gaining increased global competitive advantage due to the following key critical factors: Majority cloudless skies providing unique tourism experience for skygazing (optical astron-omy); Quality Dark skies (Low Light Pollution) and Radio quiet zones over large areas of the coun-try, especially in rural tourism destinations; and The Southern Skies Advantage (South Africa is favourable positioned in relation to a num-ber of celestial phenomena that cannot be seen from the Northern Hemisphere); Four of the world’s best-preserved meteorite impact craters are found in South Africa (Unique Multi-Science Offerings); Host two of the globe’s most significant astronomy initiatives, the SKA and the SAAO. The Pillars are developed through a multi-discipline consultancy process involving both the tourism and astronomy stakeholders in South Africa. The Implementation Plan envisioned to grow Astro-Tourism in South Africa will be implemented, monitored and evaluated according to the three Pil-lars: Pillar One: Indigenous Celestial Narratives and Human Capacity Development Pillar Two: Infrastructure Development Pillar Three: Inclusive Tourism Growth and Partnership
The science-based tourism market is gradually growing in South Africa, seeking to provide tangible socio-economic benefits with unique tourism experiences. Astro-Tourism activities includes star-gazing, visits to dark sky areas and observatories, and participation in educational programmes.Astro-Tourists (with laser pointers, binoculars, phone apps, telescopes, etc.) are commonly inter-ested in astrophotography, unique indigenous knowledge sharing, visiting our planetaria in South Africa; and attending astronomy talks. During data collection in developing this Framework, tourists indicated that their most enjoyable Astro-Tourism activities included, Stargazing (91%), followed by witnessing celestial events (50%), Astrophotography (66%), Indigenous Story-telling (33%) and other science-tourism activities (8%). The figure below, illustrates the various astro-tourism experiences and products in South Africa, including Namibia and Botswana.
Sutherland in the Northern Cape Province was selected as the site for the Southern Africa Large Telescope, where the first telescope was installed in 1976. This small town has a unique combina-tion of topographical and meteorological characteristics that makes it an ideal astronomical site. Since the construction of SALT, the ROI (return on investment) for this town resulted in becoming a key Astro-Tourism destination, where the demand for tours during peak season months (June, July and August) exceeds the capacity of the observatory, such that numerous operators are mak-ing use of amateur telescopes and attractions provided by local communities.The tourism and hospitality industry bought into the Astronomy theme and adopted space motifs and stellar imagery by naming their establishments, Skitterland (Glitter land) Guesthouse, Jupiter Restaurant, Sterland (Star land), and Southern Cross, to mention a few. The construction and op-erations of the SALT and SAAO Telescopes have and will continue to ensure huge impact on the Karoo Hoogland Area and Sutherland.
ECONOMIC
The development of accommodation establishments has led to the creation of 302 jobs directly and several jobs indirectly; The observatory has trained and employed 8 previously disadvantaged youth as tour guides, administrative and organisation staff all linked to the tours; The observatory remains the single biggest employer in the town of Suther-land; The observatory continues to utilize Sutherland based local enterprises for various projects; The SALT Collateral Benefits Programme (SCBP) through support from the Department of Arts and Culture has trained numerous youths on entrepre-neurship, supported local arts-based businesses and informal craft mar-kets; The SCBP partnership programme working with “Africa meets Africa”, cre-ated opportunities for local actors and youth to feature in a movie called “My room at the centre of the Universe” – an astronomy movie based on a boy inspired by SALT and the Sutherland dark skies.
TOURISM
Between 14000 -15 000 visitors per annum to the area; SAAO inspired the opening of a local based planetarium and this led to job creation and tourism growth; Rise in accommodation offerings in the town: 40 guest houses, 1 hotel & 10 guest farms – 8 with stargazing experience with further 15 rooms for visiting staff at SAAO; Increased offering of amenities such as 5 Restaurants, 4 big shops, 2 gas stations, 1 bank, 1 ATM, 1 hospital, 1 clinic, 1 police station, 1 post office; SAAO offers guided Tour of Telescopes, Control room visit, stargazing, and a visitor centre; Sutherland also offer a number of activities and attractions, such as the Dome Planetarium, stargazing, horse riding, snow, wild flowers, museum, mountain passes and mountain biking & hiking trails.
HEALTH
Through support from SALT and SAAO, the local clinic received medical consumables valued at R100 000; The clinic received 2 specialized trauma beds each valued at R50 000; The clinic has access to free internet provided by SAAO; Technical training was provided to local clinic staff. SAAO and SALT staff assist in the maintenance of clinic equipment.
EDUCATION
Two students from the SAAO/SALT education programmes in Sutherland are currently studying MBChB, 2nd year and 1st year BSc (Astrophysics) respectively at UCT. Of which 1 student was part of the team that won the National Astronomy Quiz in 2009; The SAAO and NRF have refurbished both the primary and high schools’ laboratories and supplied the schools with physics, chemistry and life sci-ence apparatus and utensils; SAAO has secured 6 full cost bursaries from UWC for 2019 and 2020 for local students; SALT purchased school desks for the intermediate learners in the Roggeveld Primary School; SCBP organizes annual Career Expo and “Take a child to work” programmes for career information exposure; Learners from Sutherland participate in the Astronomy Quiz, Science Festivals and Eskom Science Expo;
The learning of mathematics and science is encouraged at the Sutherland
schools through robotics programmes, science clubs and other national pro-
grammes such as National Science Week, Space Week
In collaboration with the Sutherland Library, SCBP and SAAO Library staff
reading groups have been established and an astronomy corner has been
created at the Sutherland Library;
SOCIAL
The SAAO obtained and transformed an unused building into a Sutherland Community Development centre through a sponsorship from the Department of Science and Technology, the centre is equipped with 36 computers and provides free access to internet for learners, youth and the community. Learners are enabled to complete research for their education-based pro-jects while the youth and the general public utilize the infrastructure for com-munication networks, job and business opportunities searches and applica-tions; The Community Centre serves as a platform to host various NGOs and government departments (e.g., Department of Labour and Social Services) to facilitate empowerment programmes such as construction internships for the unemployed youth, website and coding programmes for the youth and local businesses. Programmes on HIV, Drug Abuse and Alcoholic Foetal Syndrome have been implemented by Social Services Department. Training on social media, internet, email, CV writing have also been offered to the Suth-erland youth at the centre; Reading and Chess Clubs have been formed for the children of Sutherland; Madiba and Youth Days are celebrated to encourage the spirit of community, social cohesion and generosity.
The Carnarvon – Sutherland Corridor is known for the South African Large Telescope (SALT) and the Square Kilometre Array (SKA). This corridor is home to unique natural and human attractionsthat could create a strong niche tourism market in the heart of Karoo, including agricultural activi-ties. The Carnarvon-Sutherland Corridor (i.e. Sutherland, Fraserburg, Victoria-West, Loxton, Car-narvon) is characterised by broader science-based elements such as Palaeo-, Biodiversity-, Agri-culture-, Geoglyph scientific significance.30 potential to buy-in on the astronomy theme, and offer a diverse tourism offerings and activities such as, theatres, walking paths, arthouses, rock art, the SKA, clear dark skies and a unique culture and heritage. The Astro-Tourism Route framework developed by van Wyk-Jacobs (2018) provides a practical step-by-step application with an approach which the Karoo Highlands Route can adopt to provide mutual beneficiation to local communities, tourism and astronomy businesses and stakeholders, by creating an enabling environment for sustainable development and growth. Importantly, local rural communities should be involved, as a key stakeholder, throughout the implementation stages to ensure sustainable socio-economic and environmental growth. However, in order for this Astro-Tourism routes to be effective, the Northern Cape Department would have to improve the accessibility to these Astro-Tourism products and experiences through the upgrading of the road conditions, road signage and improved basic and bulk infrastructure.
Market Analysis Identify key niche markets Track trends and patternsQuality Products & Service Offerings Improve the quality of the four A’s in the destination (attractions, accommodation, access and amenities)• Improved excellent service deliveryResource Management Build human capital through capacity building and skills training Financial contributions through grants, membership fee and community trustsRoute promotion, marketing & branding• Internal Marketing by local tourism private sector Develop tourism packages Collective route name & branding Marketing by local, provincial and national tourism agenciesInfrastructure Development Road directional and tourism interpretative signage Provision on Bulk Infrastructure Improved roads; maintain gravel roadsStrategic Partnership• Mobilize partners & resources with tourism and astronomy stakeholders; public and private sector; local communities Establish a route management structureDevelop the Tourism Product & Description of the Route Mapping of route• Identify anchor projects Integrate tourism offering with astro-tourism as focal pointNon-astro tourism products and offerings Develop complimentary tourism activities such as eco, adventure and agri tourism Small town eventsAstronomy Interpretation Uplift key astro-tourism attractions Story telling of the local communities concerning indigenous astronomy Astro offerings at establishments Encourage amateur astronomy
SOLAR ANALYSIS
PESTEL ANALYSIS
Monitoring & Evaluation Management Continual product development & audit Update Visitors’ numbers & satisfaction Adhere to community issues & econ-socio impacts
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