“Noctourism,” traveling to bask in the glory of a stunning night sky, is set to be a major travel driver this coming year, Booking.com predicts.
Why it matters: The trend could bring travelers — and their dollars — to more remote locales with better night skies.
How it works: You don’t have to leave the country to get a great view of the cosmos, but you typically want to get away from big cities and their light pollution.
- The U.S. is home to over 100 dark sky sanctuaries, parks and more, according to DarkSky, which calls itself “the globally recognized authority on light pollution issues and night sky conservancy.”
- In 2001, Flagstaff was the first city to become an “international dark sky place.”
Zoom in: One of Phoenix’s suburbs — Fountain Hills — is also a dark sky community. Other nearby spots include Tonto National Monument and Oracle State Park…