The South African Astronomical Observatory Visitor Centre has opened in Cape Town, marking a significant milestone in the country's National Astro-Tourism Strategy.
The visitor center is expected to attract over 18,000 visitors annually and features interactive exhibits, historical telescopes and multilingual storytelling, including indigenous celestial narratives in isiXhosa and Khoekhoegowab languages. Visitors can participate in evening tours where they can view celestial objects through telescopes and learn about astronomy.
• Related: South Africa tourism's sky-high ambitions
"The SAAO Visitor Centre marks a major milestone in the implementation of the National Astro-Tourism Strategy," said tourism minister Patricia de Lille, who along with science minister Blade Nzimande officially opened the center. "The facility stands as a testament to how science and tourism can collaborate to unlock new frontiers in experiential and educational travel."
• Personal Quest: Revisiting -- and rediscovering -- South Africa
The center serves as a flagship initiative under South Africa's broader astro-tourism strategy, which aims to leverage the country's clear skies and rich astronomical heritage. The launch positions Cape Town as a new urban astronomy destination alongside the existing Twee Rivieren Interpretation Centre in the Kgalagadi, a large conservation area type of museum showcases and honors the knowledge and stories of the people of the Southern Kalahari..