Starlight tourist destinations are places that are open to visitors and have perfect conditions for the observing the starry sky. Moreover, as they are protected from light pollution, they are particularly suitable for developing tourism activities related to this natural resource.
These destinations must not only accredit the quality of their sky and the means to guarantee its protection, but also need to have adequate infrastructures and develop activities related to the tourist offer (accommodation, observation facilities available to visitors, staff trained in astronomical interpretation, etc.) and integrated in nature. If the site does not have these infrastructures and does not develop these activities, the establishment needs to draw up a project.
The Starlight Foundation, an international organisation linked to the Astrophysical Institute of the Canary Islands, created this certification system with the aim of improving, at an international level, the quality of tourist experiences and the protection of the night sky in Starlight destinations. The criteria were established in December 2010, at the World Tourism Organisation centre in Madrid, with representatives from Unesco, the Man and the Biosphere Programme of Unesco, and the Astrophysical Institute of the Canary Islands.
Starlight tourist destination Galician Atlantic Islands Maritime-Terrestrial National Park
This national park is located in the Rías Baixas-province of Pontevedra destination and is made up of four archipelagos: Cortegada and Sálvora, both in the coastal inlets Ría de Arousa; Ons, in the Ría de Pontevedra; and Cíes, in the Ría de Vigo.
It was declared a Starlight tourist destination in 2016 by the Starlight Foundation, which recognises the quality of its skies, its commitment to preserving its low light pollution conditions and the existence of tourist initiatives related to stargazing as an essential part of nature.
On the islands, it is possible to enjoy a clear view of the starry sky. Moreover, the breath-taking beauty and richness of its fauna and flora make these islands a unique cultural and natural treasure on the Spanish coast.
The Interpretation Centre of the Atlantic Islands Maritime-Terrestrial National Park, located in a historic building in the old quarter of the city of Vigo, offers activities based on its natural and cultural values, as well as those related to the observation and protection of the night sky.
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