The regions of Tarragona want to turn the total solar eclipse of August 12 into a tourist driver and have already begun to coordinate to arrive at the event with a joint offering. Business operators met this week at the Cambra de Comerç de Reus with a view to a phenomenon that will not be limited to sky observation.
The paradox for the sector is that the main attraction is an event of a few hours, while the real objective is to establish stable activity before and after that date. That is why the strategy defended by the Fundació Starlight focuses on training and networking among companies, accommodations, and proposals already established in the territory.
The Fundació Starlight proposes an offer that goes beyond the eclipse
During the meeting in Reus, the foundation stated that the tourist exploitation of future astronomical phenomena depends on coordinating the agents involved. The calendar includes three astronomical events between August and 2028, with the total eclipse on August 12, a second total eclipse in 2027, and an annular eclipse in 2028.
Juan Vicente Ledesma, a trainer for the Fundació Starlight, summarized this approach in a broad vision of the business linked to the night sky.
"It is not just about observing the stars, but about a transversal activity that includes gastronomy, oenology, accommodation, transport, nature companies, and many other sectors linked to tourism" - Juan Vicente Ledesma, trainer, Fundació Starlight
Efforts are concentrated in Terres de l'Ebre, Muntanyes de Prades, and Monsant, three areas that have an advantage due to sky protection and low light pollution. This is where the sector sees more potential to connect the astronomical attraction with already consolidated activities.
Prades and Priorat seek to link the night sky to campsites, wine, and oil
In Prades, the municipality's campsite is already detecting an increase in interest in astronomical tourism and wants to align itself with the Starlight seal to preserve the darkness of the environment. The preparation for the eclipse appears to its managers as an immediate test of shared organization.
Mireia Sans, a representative of the Prades campsite, emphasized the need to organize the territory's response to the arrival of visitors.
"This year's eclipse is key because it requires coordination and organization for it to be a success" - Mireia Sans, representative, Prades campsite
Later, Sans places that movement within a broader offering. She explains that the establishment wants to attract astronomical tourism, which is gaining importance in the area, and add it to the existing attractions.
Also in Priorat, Vinícola del Priorat has been working for some time to incorporate the night sky into its wine tourism offerings and economic development. The idea is to receive visitors attracted by astronomy and, at the same time, link that experience with local products.
Damià Fàbrega, head of Vinícola del Priorat, specified that the cooperative seeks to fit nocturnal tourism into an offering where gastronomy, wine, and oil already have a presence. He added that the objective is for those who visit Priorat to be able to access a complementary offering linked to the night sky and the territory's products.
Mireia Sans, representative of the Prades campsite, also suggested that this year's eclipse should serve to attract visitors as a complement to the existing tourist offering in the territory.