Stargazing tourism to bolster quiet winter visitor figures

Sat, 26 Jan 2013

The tourism department feels it's identified a new niche market that could bolster the visitor figures during the quiet winter months.

A recent boost in popularity for star-gazing and astronomy has coincided with several Manx sites being granted Dark Sky status.

This is the process of identifying key sites for the best star-gazing opportunities on a clear night.

A recent BBC series has brought the pastime back into the public conscious, making it a viable tourism option for the Island.

Head of Tourism Angela Byrne said the Island is renowned location to star gazers across the UK.