Pictured from Left to right - Caroline Ungersbock, (Sustainable Tourism Enterprise), Cllr. Cheryl Jantjies, (Ubuntu Executive Mayor) Me. Jean Wilson (Head of Tourism at Department of Economic Development and Tourism) and Dianna Martin (GM Marketing and Promotions at NCEDA)
Victoria West is set to provide tourists with a unique opportunity to explore the towns clear night sky as part of local tourism offerings in what is simple dubbed Astro Tourism. Victoria West, a small Karoo dorpie under the jurisdiction of Ubuntu Local Municipality is gearing towards full participation in Astro Tourism. Other towns in the municipality include Richmond and Loxton. Astro – tourism involves travel that takes people to somewhat remote locations and sometimes on unique adventures in their search for unpolluted views of the cosmos.
This type of tourism offers people around the world an opportunity to look up at the night sky and have a clear view of thousands upon thousands of stars. As part of the ongoing celebrations of the tourism month the Northern Cape Department of Finance, Economic Development and Tourism capable led by Hon Venus Blennies hosted a domestic tourism dialogue with a special focus on Astro tourism at the local Apollo Theatre.
At the event Ubuntu Local Municipality Executive Mayor Cllr. Cheryl Jantjies supported efforts to make the area a premier astro tourism destination. Said Jantjies, “We have the clearest skies in the world and will surely provide an unforgettable experience for visitors.”
According to the Mayor a visit to this part of the Northern Cape will expose travelers to the growing interest in astro-tourism, providing them with opportunities to observe celestial phenomena away from big cities with sky pollution.
During the dialogue, local tourism operators and educators provided a wish list to the department that will make sure that local people make a meaningful participation in the Astro Tourism economy, there were also suggestions of getting astronomy to be part of the curriculum in order to encourage learners to be actively involved in tourism activities.
Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille recently announced that the Department of Tourism is finalising the national astro-tourism strategy to present to the Cabinet, aiming to position the country as a world-class astro-tourism destination.
Dr. Letitia Jacobs from the Northern Cape who was part of the team that developed the strategy also attended and addressed the event. She also did her Thesis on astronomy and was better placed to lead the dialogue. She told the gathering that South Africa is the first country in Africa to develop this strategy.
Dr. Jacobs appealed to tourists to visit the Northern Cape and enjoy clear horizons, free of distractions, to admire the stars and other tourism attractions.
