This year, 45 nonprofits received funding, including 29 festivals.
International campaigns such as As Starry AZ It Gets have played a major role in global awareness of the value of dark skies. They have no doubt greatly contributed to making astrotourism the No. 1 travel trend, according to Condé Nast Traveler, a global magazine focused on luxury and lifestyle.
This is good news for the region, as Arizona Office of Tourism Director Lisa Urias says the economic impact of visitors coming to the Four Corners area through 2029, specifically for dark-sky activities, is estimated at $5.9 billion!
“Those of us who are members of the Flagstaff Dark Skies Coalition applaud Discover Flagstaff for being such an important and steadfast voice in sharing our community’s love of dark starry skies with the world,” said FDSC President Chris Luginbuhl. “Their tireless efforts have made a huge impact in the numbers of people who not only enjoy peering into the universe from Flagstaff, but also have gained an appreciation for the darkness, which extends to a conservation and stewardship ethic.”
In addition, the City of Flagstaff has been instrumental in supporting arts and science organizations through operational and project grants for many years, made possible through the BBB tax. This year, 45 nonprofits received funding, including 29 festivals. Meanwhile, Discover Flagstaff has been busy promoting those events through videos and digital ads.
“Several of those local nonprofit organizations, like the Coalition, use the funding to create dark skies activities for locals and visitors, leaving lasting impressions on people of all ages as they connect with each other and the cosmos,” said Luginbuhl.
“I speak for the entire staff at Discover Flagstaff when I say we are honored to work with the business community and our residents in telling the Flagstaff story while uplifting our community’s values,” said Discover Flagstaff Executive Director Trace Ward. “The city’s awe-inspiring dark skies, history of breakthrough astronomical discoveries and continued importance in the astronomy community with our very own Lowell Observatory, are some of the unique ‘flags’ we proudly fly for the world to become inspired and plan a visit to our beautiful mountain town.”
Because of the valuable contributions made by the professional and enthusiastic team at Discover Flagstaff to share our community’s values and instill an awareness and appreciation for dark skies, the Coalition is proud to recognize Discover Flagstaff as this month’s Dark Skies Champion. FBN
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