WANA (Jan 20) – At a time when the world’s major cities are buried under layers of light pollution, a truly dark sky has become a rare and valuable asset in the tourism industry. Today, travelers from Europe, North America, and East Asia are willing to pay substantial amounts to spend a night beneath a natural, star-filled sky free of artificial light. In this context, Iran—thanks to its exceptional geography—has emerged as one of the most promising yet least-known regions on the global map of astrotourism.

 

The Lut Desert, the desert plains of Yazd, and the Seh-Qaleh region in South Khorasan Province are three standout locations that experts say have the potential to be designated as internationally recognized Dark Sky Parks. The combination of an arid climate, distance from urban centers, and minimal light pollution has turned these areas into a paradise for night-sky observers.

 

Dark Sky Parks are an official designation granted under the supervision of the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) to areas that meet strict standards for reducing light pollution, environmental management, construction limits, and protection of the nighttime landscape. Beyond their environmental value, these certifications play a significant role in attracting niche tourists, researchers, and astronomy enthusiasts.

 

There is no shortage of successful examples worldwide. Cherry Springs State Park in the northeastern United States boasts one of the darkest recorded skies in the country due to its unique geography and distance from dense settlements. Likewise, Chesler Park in Utah’s Canyonlands, set deep within a remote desert, has become a well-known destination for astronomy lovers and astrophotographers.

 

Interest in this potential is also growing in Iran. In an interview with Fars News Agency, Mehdi Baharvand, Head of the Tourism Products Group at the Office for Domestic Tourism Development, stated that several regions in the country meet the initial requirements for registration as Dark Sky Parks. According to him, the Seh-Qaleh region in South Khorasan is one of the most serious candidates, alongside parts of the Lut Desert and the desert plains of Yazd and Kerman.

Meteor Shower to Illuminate Iran’s Night Sky Tonight. Social media/ WANA News Agency

That said, the path toward registration and protection is not without challenges. Vast geographic scale, overlap with locally owned land, the presence of rural or urban facilities, and poor lighting practices are among the main obstacles to meeting international standards. Experts stress that without revising lighting systems and clearly defining protected buffer zones, obtaining global certification will be difficult.

 

In this context, the experience of Esfahak village in South Khorasan stands out as a successful domestic example. With the participation of residents and local institutions, the village has established an observation site and replaced modern lighting with traditional lanterns that emit controlled light—an approach that both preserves local identity and minimizes light pollution. The result has been a significant increase in domestic and international visitors and growing recognition of Esfahak in professional tourism circles.

 

Meanwhile, the drafting of national guidelines for registering Dark Sky Parks in Iran is nearing completion. These guidelines define regulations related to core zones and buffer areas, permitted facilities, lighting requirements, accommodation standards, staff training, and the registration process. Designing environmentally compatible lodgings and observation structures, training specialized astrotourism guides, and providing standard equipment are among the additional plans envisioned to develop this emerging field.

 

At a time when many countries are spending heavily to restore their night skies, Iran is facing a ready-made natural asset—one that, if managed properly, could secure the country a place among the world’s leading destinations for dark-sky tourism.