Utah, home to more than 20 Dark Sky parks, celebrates 'astrotourism'

Utah has more than 20 "Dark Sky" designated parks, making it among the world's best places to see the stars.

To highlight that fact, Gov. Spencer Cox on Tuesday officially announced April as "Dark Sky Month," which coincides with the larger International Dark Sky Week recognized in places around the world.

The state is home to 24 designated International Dary Sky Association parks, including all five national parks in Utah — Zion, Arches, Canyonlands, Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef — as well as 10 state parks, two towns and various other areas.

The state tourism office credits astrotourism for bringing some $5.8 million in vistor spending to the Colorado Plateau area, including Utah.

Dark sky preservation is a key part of the state's "Red Emerald Strategic Plan," which aims to spread out visitation and soften the effects of overtourism, in part by attracting visitors to seek out less-visited parks during their visits to the state.

"Preserving dark skies helps communities establish long-lasting tourism economies and keeps our places Forever Mighty," said Vicki Varela, managing director of the Utah Office of Tourism, referencing the state's "Mighty 5" branding of the five national parks within its boundaries. "Utah State Parks, our national parks and community partners have shown tremendous leadership and vision in preserving the night sky throughout the state."

Five dark sky state parks have been added to Utah's repertoire since 2020 — Goosenecks, Freemont Indian, Jordanelle, Kodachrome and Rockport State Parks. The first certified dark sky park in Utah and the world was Natural Bridges National Monument, designated in 2006.

The International Dark-Sky Association certifies parks through an application process and are "protected for natural conservation that implement good outdoor lighting and provide dark sky programs for visitors."

"An International Dark Sky Place designation helps enhance the visibility of designated locations and foster increased tourism and local economic activity," the organization's website said.

This article originally appeared on St. George Spectrum & Daily News: How Utah's night skies celebrate 'astrotourism'