Nearly 40% tourists in FY2024-25 opted for stargazing and astro tourism: JCI
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The global astro tourism market is projected to grow at a 10% CAGR, reaching USD400 million by 2030, with India emerging as a prime destination.
Jungle Camps India (JCI) is witnessing popularity for astro tourism and night safaris among travellers at its forest resorts based in Kanha, Pench & Tadoba.
Pench Tiger Reserve, recognised as the first certified Dark Sky Park of India, is drawing travellers seeking to view the night sky in its full glory. At Pench Jungle Camp, nearly 40% of guests in FY 2024–25 opted for stargazing and astronomy-focused sessions. Activities like astrophotography, guided star walks, and campfire gatherings are becoming part of JCI’s regular itinerary.
Gajendra Singh Rathore, Managing Director of Jungle Camps India said, “The shift towards astro tourism and night safaris shows a growing interest in travel experiences rooted in quiet observation and connection with the nature. We at Jungle Camps India are delighted to offer an escape into a slower, deeper rhythm of the forest. Our guests are increasingly drawn to experiences that offer quiet, open skies and the sounds of the forest at night. Stargazing and night safaris offer a different way to connect with nature and these moments, away from screens and city lights, are becoming a reason for them to travel to the jungle. We welcome all who seek calm, curiosity, and a closer bond with the natural world”
In 2025, over 50% of tourists are said to be prioritising trips to dark-sky zones, seeking not only wildlife encounters but also unpolluted views of the night sky, which enhances the overall wilderness experience.
Whereas, the global astro tourism market, valued at USD250 million in 2023, is projected to grow at a 10% CAGR, reaching USD400 million by 2030, with India emerging as a prime destination due to its natural dark sky reserves and growing infrastructure.
The company currently operates properties located at Pench Tiger Reserve, Kanha Tiger Reserve and Rukhad Buffer Zone of Pench Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh and Tadoba Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra. The company, along with its subsidiary companies, owns and manages 87 rooms of accommodation, including tree houses, villas, cottages, safari tents, and others.