Protect Our Night Sky – Reduce Light Pollution

Excessive artificial lighting at night affects nature, human health, and the quality of the tourist experience.
By reducing light pollution, we can all contribute to sustainable tourism and create more pleasant spaces for living and visiting.

Why is it important to reduce light pollution? Overly bright and poorly directed lighting can disrupt the natural cycles of both wildlife and humans, reduce sleep quality, and diminish the visibility of the starry sky — a part of our identity and cultural landscape for centuries.

Impact on nature:
• Birds become disoriented during migration
• Nocturnal insects and bats lose habitat and struggle to find food
• Plants change their growth and flowering cycles due to constant illumination

Impact on people:
• Bright night lights can disrupt sleep and circadian rhythms
• Reduced melatonin production can affect long-term health
• Increased stress, fatigue, and decreased concentration

Good practice examples:
• Slovenia – Certified Dark Sky areas develop astrotourism and educate visitors on night sky conservation
• Canary Islands – Strict lighting standards applied near observatories
• Croatia – An increasing number of destinations are installing warm LED lamps and motion sensors, developing night walks and stargazing programs

How can we contribute?
For households and private accommodation providers:
• Use lighting directed toward the ground
• Choose warm-spectrum LED lights (2700K–3000K)
• Install motion sensors on outdoor lamps

For hotels and tourism facilities:
• Reduce lighting intensity after 11 PM
• Use closed lighting fixtures that prevent upward light spill
• Inform guests about sustainable lighting practices

For the destination:
• Organise stargazing programs
• Develop “dark sky” zones or themed educational walks
• Maintain a balance between safety and preservation of nighttime ambience

A call to collective action:
The starry sky is part of our heritage. By reducing excessive lighting, we create healthier environments, support ecosystems, and enrich our tourism offering.
potpomažemo ekosustavima i obogaćujemo turističku ponudu.

Let’s protect our night sky. Experience the beauty of darkness.