There is a new trend in travel and tourism, and some Arizona locations are set to try to take advantage of it.
Noctourism is on the rise — meaning travelers are staying up late and doing more things at night. Places like observatories and other space-related destinations across the state could see more visitors.
Jennifer Broome, a freelance travel and environmental journalist and meteorologist, recently wrote a piece in Conde Nast Traveler about Tucson’s new Astrotourism Trail. Broome joined The Show to talk about this trend, starting with defining what exactly noctourism refers to.
Full conversation
JENNIFER BROOME: Yeah, so you're hearing this term called noctourism, or it's also called astrotourism or night tourism. It is basically anything that happens after the sun goes down. You know, I think you hear a lot about like national parks, you know, the tagline that they use, half the, half the park is after dark. You know, with that trend in people being so excited to experience the night sky, learn more about it. And then, of course, the craze that we've seen with the solar eclipses, the chasing the Northern Lights, you know, all of that falls under noctourism. It's also includes things like resorts and different destinations that kind of focus in on that night tourism.
MARK BRODIE: What is behind this, this increase in interest in doing things at night when you're traveling?
BROOME: You know, I think it, it's a lot of things. I think we're all craving something that unifies us a little bit. The reality is, we all live under the stars, we live under the sun. It's something we all can share. It's kind of like weather. We all share weather.
Everybody likes to talk about it as well. And it's just, honestly, it's that good old fashioned fun. It's free, in a lot of cases, if you just want to go, you know, somewhere away from city lights and just gaze at the night sky, maybe try to see the International Space Station making a pass or look for the shooting stars, or just observe anything in the night sky. Try to look for the planets as well. That's free to do.
You know, and, and it is something that's, I think we all are craving education too. And it's the final frontier, you know. You know, there, there's so much buzz about it. I love it.
BRODIE: Is there an element to this too that, you know, especially for example, here in Phoenix, during the summer, there are more things, more events happening at night just because it's so hot and unpleasant to be outside when the sun is out during the day. I wonder if there's an element of that as well. People who maybe want to travel to Phoenix or other places that are really hot during the day during the summer, but at night it's a little more tolerable to be out.
BROOME: Yeah, I think it really is. And, you know, you're kind of touching on a little bit, you know, bringing in the climate change aspect of it of, you know, we are seeing hotter days. We're also seeing, you know, more violent storms. We're seeing when it gets cold, more extreme cold. So part of climate change is that as the meteorologist in me, you know, is recognizing that we have extremes and that's the extreme cold and the extreme heat.
So I think you are starting to see places, say, you know, that do like Phoenix, that are skewing on, you know, the hotter side of the scale, looking for the opportunities to still get outside. How can you still do some things and still enjoy? And, you know, not just in Phoenix, but I mean, throughout Arizona, there's so much desert landscape that truly does come alive. As the sun goes down, and yes, those cooler temperatures at night really, truly do help.
BRODIE: How are destinations adapting to this new trend? I mean, how are they maybe marketing things you can do at night and maybe adjusting what they provide during the day for, you know, for people who maybe are planning to be out at night as opposed to, you know, back in their hotel or, you know, sort of just wandering around.
BROOME: Yeah, you know, I think it's, it's an interesting trend, you know, that we're seeing with destinations really going hard on spotlighting what you can do at night. And that's going beyond, oh, just go downtown and enjoy the restaurants and bars. it's really about what are ways that we can experience the outdoors.
I recently wrote an article for Conde Nast Traveler on Tucson, being the first in the world to do this Astro Trail. And they got together and decided, OK, we have all of these world renowned observatories and things that are related to the night sky. So I think as places you're getting more and more places that are really focusing in, and Tucson was a leader in this, back in the 70s, they really started saying, we're going to do some things to combat light pollution. Because obviously, if you want to look at the night sky and enjoy all the wonders of galaxies far, far away, you need dark skies, you need to be away from city lights.
BRODIE: Yeah. So in the world of of travel, how big is noctourism? Like how big of a deal is it sort of in the world of in the world of travel?
BROOME: It is becoming increasingly popular. I think like some of these things have kind of been around and there wasn't a buzzword name to it. But as you're seeing more and more parks get involved and more, you know, places like Phoenix and Tucson and that, do have really, really hot summers that are starting to look at what are some alternatives? How can we still get people to come and visit and enjoy the spectacular outdoor areas and spaces that are around, but do it safely.
But I think it's really just, you know, really within the past year, starting to see this trend bubbling up of, and kind of getting that phrase of the noctourism or, you know, astrotourism, you know, or just night tourism. It's a travel concept I guess that's still in its infancy and still finding its way, but increasingly popular and I just love it. There's so much excitement, you know, about the things coming up.
BRODIE: Do you get the sense that this trend is sustainable?
BROOME: 100%. Absolutely. You know, the night sky's not going anywhere. You know, I mean, it's got to be there. So, I think people are, are so curious about things. And, and, you know, there's so much, you know, the race to space, really is still fascinating to all of us. ou know, it doesn't matter what age you are. Just looking up and seeing the spectacular night sky feels so much, especially when you get out of the city lights.
You know, if you, when you live in the city and you have that opportunity to, to get out and just go somewhere and, you know, even if you just sit on the side of the road and look up and, and stare at the night sky, and look and see what's there, it, it really does pique our curiosity and fascination of what's out there, you know, and, and, and like I said, It's just, it's just pure old fashioned enjoyment. And it gets you off your phone, off the computer. And then whether you do it by yourself as a solo traveler or do it with family and friends, it's an opportunity to at least connect with something, whether that's connecting with the people you're with, or simply connecting with yourself and the beauty of the night sky.
