Astro-Tourism (Winter / Summer)

There are plenty of reasons to visit a destination: its culture, history, attractions, food. But travelers’ interests are a bit more up in the air lately… literally.  Consulta Meta I-M. Inc. can help make that a reality for your Yukon business.

We have the knowledge, experience, equipment, and resources to help all outfitter, hotel, and tourism businesses/operators create their own Astro-Tourism package(s) for, and in the Yukon!

How will Consulta Meta offer you your ‘Astro-Wild’?

• Option 1: Develop Multilingual Packages (New or Complimentary)

• Option 2: Develop Interactive Sky Presentation (Day/Night)

• Option 3: Offer Certification in Day/Night Sky Interpretation

Whether it’s the Northern Lights or the solar eclipse, more people are booking trips just to witness celestial events. In other words: Astro-Tourism is officially a thing. Need proof?

U.S. hotels were selling out one year in advance of the total solar eclipse in August 2017, visitors came in droves to Iceland in hopes of seeing the Aurora Borealis, and properties across the world are now offering sun, moon and star-themed activities. Several blogs are also ranking the top places to view rare astronomical occurrences, which sometimes will last only 30 to 190 seconds.

Where you watch is up to you, and now you have options. To name a few: You can take part in multi-day events like AstroCon2017 in Wyoming and SolarFest in Oregon, as well as eclipse-themed tours of Yellowstone National Park and the Oregon Eclipse music festival. Canada has its own share of unique events ranging from Star Parties to Dark-Sky Festivals:

• KOUCHIBOUGUAC SPRING STAR FEST (Kouchibouguac National Park, New Brunswick);

• THE COW (CAMPING OBSERVING WEEKEND) STAR PARTY (Mactaquac Provincial Park, New Brunswick);

• EVENING UNDER THE STARS (Terra Nova National Park, Newfoundland)

• HAROLD HEALY FROZEN BANANA STAR PARTY (Mew Lake Campground (in Algonquin Provincial Park), Ontario);

• ALBERTA STAR-B-Q (Eccles Ranch Observatory (north of Caroline), Alberta);

• BEYOND THE BIG DIPPER (Grasslands National Park (West Block), Saskatchewan);

• MT. KOBAU STAR PARTY (Summit of Mount Kobau (near Osoyoos), British Columbia)

• THEBACHA & WOOD BUFFALO DARK SKY FESTIVAL (Fort Smith and Wood Buffalo National Park, Northwest Territories);

• JASPER DARK SKY FESTIVAL (Jasper townsite & Jasper National Park, Alberta);

• YUKON STAR PARTY (Takhini Hotsprings, Whitehorse); and,

• The Northern Nights Dark-Sky Festival at Kluane National Park, in collaboration with Parks Canada, in September!!

As the fascination with the Northern Lights booms, so does visitation to the countries with the best views. Hotel Ranga in Hella, Iceland built an onsite astronomical observatory, Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort in Saariselka, Finland uses glass igloos for their rooms, offering guests a spectacular view of the natural phenomenon, and Canopy by Hilton in Reykjavik, Iceland has a “Northern Lights Package,” which includes complimentary admission to Aurora Reykjavik Northern Lights Center.

Consulta Meta I.M. Inc. will assist you to provide your summer/winter program, and to offer professional live presentations (not just movies). Even the everyday sun (solar observation) and moon phases are peaking traveler’s curiosities, these days.

Hilton Los Cabos Beach & Golf Resort now hosts a five-course, full-moon inspired dinner on the beach, Weekapaug Inn in Rhode Island offers guests the chance to take a guided night-time tour across the Quonochontaug Pond, Horizon X is excited to be the only company on the Ottawa River to offer full moon rafting trips, and Calico Jack’s on Seven Mile Beach in Grand Cayman puts on a party in honour of the monthly event.

The stars are getting some love, too. Las Ventanas al Paraiso, a Rosewood Resort in Mexico, boasts its very own astronomer, and offers a telescope in every guest room. Carlo Magno Hotel Spa Resort in Madonna di Campiglio, Italy gives guests access to an astronomical observatory, as well as guided evening sessions with their telescope. And adventure travel company Holiday River Expeditions sold out of all trips last year launched in honour of the International Dark Sky movement, which helps preserve unadulterated night skies at designated sites around the world.

If you were to ask any tourist coming through the arrival gate at Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport, what the one thing is that they hope to experience during their holiday in the Yukon, there’s a good chance they would say ‘adventure’, ‘nature’ or ‘the culture’. But chances are, they will also say 'the SKY'!

WILL ASTRO-TOURISM BECOME A STRONG VALUE-ADDED OPTION FOR YOUR BUSINESS?