South African tourism is going where no other African country has gone before – the stars.
Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Prof Blade Nzimande, and Minister of Tourism Patricia de Lille joined forces on World Tourism Day to officially launch South Africa’s National Astro-Tourism Strategy in Carnarvon, reports Cape {town} Etc.
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Adding that it was a first for the continent, the ministers dubbed the Astro-Tourism strategy a significant step forward in positioning South Africa, and in particular the Northern Cape, as a catalyst for rural tourism and agri-tourism growth.
The strategy aims to combine science and local culture by offering tourists an opportunity to both marvel at the stars and learn about indigenous celestial stories from the Khoisan people of the region.
The launch took place during a two-day event last week in Carnarvon – a village in the Karoo in the Northern Cape, South Africa’s least populous province – near the location of the Square Kilometre Array.
The Square Kilometre Array, known colloquially as the SKA, is poised to become the largest radio telescope in the world, making it an ideal destination for stargazers and space enthusiasts alongside the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) in Sutherland.
‘The SKA represents the future of both science and tourism in South Africa,’ The Daily Sun quoted Minister de Lille as saying during the event. ‘It’s an opportunity for us to show the world that South Africa is not just a destination of natural beauty but of scientific achievement.’
Minister @PatriciaDeLille Deputy Minister @Maggie_Sotyu visited the Square Kilometre Array outside Carnarvon, NC as part of the National Astro-Tourism Strategy opening for public comment from 27 Sept to 27 Oct 2024.#tourismmonth2024#experiencethenorthencape#astrotourism pic.twitter.com/SlxcTi8fG5
— Dept of Tourism (@Tourism_gov_za) September 27, 2024
‘We want to use the SKA and Astro-Tourism as a catalyst to develop the Karoo and provide opportunities for rural tourism as well as agri-tourism to develop rural areas further. The Northern Cape is the prime location to launch this strategy as 50% of the world’s population cannot see the beauty of the night sky, but the African sky still remains at an advantage by having the clearest and darkest night sky,’ she said.
The plan, according to de Lille, will focus on infrastructure development, bolstering astronomy tourism streams and fostering community transformation. She also stressed the importance of collaboration between national, provincial and local governments and the private sector to ensure sustainable growth.
‘There is so much untapped potential in our tourism market, and we must work together on all levels of government to promote our hidden gems and give more business to SMEs and community tourism,’ De Lille said.
The National Astro-Tourism Strategy is structured around three core pillars that will guide its implementation:
- Indigenous Celestial Narratives and Human Capacity Development: This pillar will focus on preserving and sharing South Africa’s indigenous knowledge of the stars, blending ancient celestial narratives with modern astronomical science.
- Infrastructure Development: Ensuring the optimal functioning of astro-tourism infrastructure, from observatories to community-based initiatives that enhance access to stargazing experiences.
- Inclusive tourism and Partnerships: Creating partnerships that foster inclusive tourism growth, allowing local communities to benefit from the influx of tourists while contributing to conservation efforts.
An estimated 1.4 million visited the Northern Cape last year, reported ENCA. The province’s biggest tourist attractions include the Big Hole in Kimberly (the site of South Africa’s first diamond rush), the Namakwa flowers and the Kalahari.
What do you think? The National Astro-Tourism Strategy is out for public comment until 27 October 2024. Those interested in submitting written inputs can do so in the following ways:
- Mail the Director-General, Department of Tourism, Private Bag x424, Pretoria, 0001 (Attention: Dr Laeticia Jacobs)
- Deliver by hand to the Tourism House, 17 Trevenna Street, Sunnyside, Pretoria, 0001
- Email [email protected]
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Picture: @Tourism_gov_za / X
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