Vicuña, a town in northern Chile renowned for its sky clarity, is set to host an international astro-tourism summit in September.
The event aspires to leverage astro-tourism for sustainable rural development, advocate for policies to mitigate light pollution, and further position Vicuña, and by extension Chile, as a significant player in global astronomy.
The summit, with contributions from the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), is expected to draw participants from various nations, including Spain, Portugal, the United States, Argentina, and Chile itself.

Chilean scientist and astronomy expert, José Maza, expressed the nation’s aim to promote intellectual curiosity and education through astronomy.
Chile’s notable share of global optical astronomical capacity and the area’s climatic conditions, resulting in over 290 clear nights annually, make it an attractive location for astro-tourism.
The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), one of the world’s largest observatories, is a testament to this.
These factors have fostered a thriving tourist sector, drawing star enthusiasts globally.
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