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• The Starlight destination certification aims to protect the environmental health of night landscapes and use them as a tourist attraction.

The Os Ancares Lucenses, and Montes de Cervantes, Navia and Becerreá Biosphere Reserve receives the Starlight Tourist Destination certification. This is a recognition that aims to protect the environmental health of night landscapes and use them as a tourist attraction. This certification system is supported by UNESCO, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the International Astronomical Union (IAU). With the new addition of the Ancares Lucenses, Galicia now has 7 Starlight destinations.

The Lugo Territory Promotion and Tourism Deputy, Pilar García Porto, valued that the “distinction will help us continue to delve into the sustainable tourism model, in a territory in which these initiatives are fundamental to establish population.” The Provincial Council, which has already invested 1 million euros of European funds to improve the biosphere reserve, explains that the next step will be to launch a working group to address astronomical actions necessary to adapt the light sources and promote services and specialized resources.

Spain has more than 60 Starlight Tourist Destinations, 7 of them located in Galicia. Lo de los Ancares is the second in the province of Lugo, after the distinction of the Muras city council since the end of 2020. Other places certified for star tourism in Galicia are the Atlantic Islands of Galicia National Park, Costa da Morte, Trevinca, Muras, Lalín and the Mariñas Coruñesas Biosphere Reserve.