For many rural villages, remoteness is often seen as a disadvantage—a reason why young people leave and why economic opportunities seem scarce. But what if this very distance from city lights and noise could be transformed into a unique, sought-after treasure? As the founder of Visit Dark Skies, I have witnessed how villages can turn…
Nestled in the Alentejo region, the village of Cumeada has long embraced the poetry of silence, the vastness of nature, and the darkness of the night sky. As the headquarters of the Dark Sky® Alqueva, the world’s first Starlight Tourism Destination, our community has worked for over a decade to show that sustainable rural tourism can…
A new agreement has been signed to support the sustainable development of Abo Noghta Castles & Historic Tabab, a village in Saudi Arabia recognized as one of the Best Tourism Villages by UN Tourism in 2024. The agreement was formalized under the patronage of the Aseer Development Authority. The initiative aims to enhance tourism services…