Teruel, 20–22 October 2025. The Provincial Government of Teruel (DPT) hosted the 2nd project meeting and Study Visit of the Interreg Euro-MED MedSkyTour project, an international event that brought together partners and experts to advance solutions against light pollution and develop astrotourism services in rural Mediterranean areas. The project aims to accelerate the reduction of emissions and light pollution, protect nocturnal biodiversity, and create astrotourism routes and services that generate off-season economic activity in rural environments, positioning Teruel as an international Astrotourism destination.
Throughout the meeting, Astrotourism policies and standards were addressed through working sessions on Place Labs, light-pollution assessment and the definition of transnational standards that can serve as a reference for the participating territories. These discussions laid the foundations for shared governance and comparable technical criteria across the Interreg Euro-MED Programme region.
The programme included practical measures and tools, with a dedicated workshop on light-pollution prevention and the presentation of the project’s carbon-footprint monitoring system, designed to measure and reduce the environmental impact of activities.
In the field of quality and certification, the programme featured an intervention on astrotourism and Starlight certification by astrophysicist Toñi Varela (IAC), who participated online. Her contribution helped guide quality requirements and supported the professionalisation of the astrotourism offer.
The programme also included fieldwork and demonstrations, such as visits to the Javalambre Astrophysical Observatory (OAJ, Pico del Buitre) and the GALÁCTICA Centre, including presentations, museum visits and solar observation. Participants also took part in tours of viewpoints and interpretive itineraries in the Gúdar-Javalambre county, as well as a guided sky observation in Manzanera, allowing them to experience the destination’s potential first-hand.
Finally, cases and market insights were presented through talks on star tourism at the Monasterio del Olivar, the business experience of Astroandalus, and examples of thematic astrotourism products and services, helping to identify replicable models and concrete business opportunities.
The meeting brought together the ten partners of the MedSkyTour consortium and associated entities, with the DPT acting as host and the Gúdar-Javalambre County serving as a reference territory for astrotourism excellence. Participants included regional development centres, energy and environmental agencies, lighting clusters, regional administrations and national tourism organisations.
