Exploring the Future of Stargazing & Dark Sky Tourism, with Megan Eaves, Nightfaring

From China to Chile, Norway to Namibia and the US to New Zealand, Dark Sky Tourism is a fast-diversifying niche segment. But how does the tourism industry and the scientific community distinguish between terms like Stargazing, Dark Sky Tourism and Astro Tourism, which get used interchangeably? Why are nocturnal conservation and light pollution legislation important? Who are dark sky tourists, and how are their interests changing? And how can tourism boards, hotels and tour operators effectively support the growth of dark sky tourism without further harming the planet's natural rhythms? This week, Gary Bowerman addresses all these issues and more with Megan Eaves, a UK-based travel and science writer and an expert on dark sky tourism. Megan is a delegate for DarkSky International, and author of the upcoming book, NightFaring: In Search of the Disappearing Darkness. The discussion segues from darkness retreats to spotting meteor showers, dark photography to night safaris, and why now is a good time to seek out the Aurora Borealis. Megan explains how dark sky parks and reserves are created and certified, and why a new dark sky lodging accreditation could encourage hotels, hostels and retreats to invest in low-impact light solutions. Plus, she shares case studies from destinations that are progressively managing dark sky tourism - and warns about the perils of 'Starwashing'.