DARK-SKY TOURISM FOR SUSTAINABLE TOURISM RECOVERY and destinations, for instance, remote and undeveloped areas, making domestic tourism more competitive and attractive in the future32. Domestic tourist destinations, which can provide minimal health risks and open-air experiences, in particular, rural and natural areas, have been gaining popularity and are expected to grow in demand in the post-Covid era33. Moreover, support of domestic tourism will encourage the development of isolated and sparsely populated, providing local communities with potential economic growth. In addition, newly discovered and unique destinations can become a good selling point for future international travels. The preference for more environmentally friendly, innovative, safe and well-being has been identified as new patterns in tourists’ behaviour34. Research has also confirmed that the promotion of domestic tourism helped reduce the impacts of different crises and unexpected challenges35. It is also important to note that the Global domestic tourism market is six times larger than the international market, therefore, its support, promotion and restart will significantly mitigate the impacts of the pandemic36. 4. DARK-SKY TOURISM FOR INDUSTRY RECOVERY The beginning of 2022 has marked a gradual growth of international tourism activities, meanwhile, domestic tourism remains to stimulate the recovery of the sector. The post-pandemic times created great opportunities to facilitate and diversify domestic tourism products and destinations that have led to an increase in domestic travel demand, and subsequently, will become an attraction for foreign tourists. As Zhenhua L. (2003) rightly noted “preserving and promoting the rare and unique tourist assets, rather than all resources, is the key to achieving competitiveness and sustainability in tourism”. Dark-sky tourism (DST), as a unique form of tourism activity, therefore, can become a great contributor to the 32 OECD. (2020a). Rebuilding Tourism for the Future: COVID-19 Policy Response and Recovery. Paris: OECD. 33 Rogerson, C.M & Rogerson, J.M. (2021). COVID-19 and Changing Tourism Demand: Research Review and Policy Implications for South Africa. African Journal of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure, 10(1): 1-21. DOI: https://doi.org/10.46222/ajhtl.19770720-83. 34 The European Court of Auditors: EU Support for tourism: Need for a fresh strategic orientation and a better funding approach (2021), Special Report, 27. 35 Arbulú I., Razumova M., Rey-Maquieira J., Sastre F. (2021) Can domestic tourism relieve the COVID-19 tourist industry crisis? The case of Spain, Journal of Destination Marketing & Management, Volume 20, 100568, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdmm.2021.100568. 36 UNWTO: Understanding Domestic Tourism and Seizing its Opportunities (2020), Briefing Note – Tourism and Covid-19, Issue 3.
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