GLOW2.0 Project Outputs & Results
Useful materials from the project
Project reports, deliverables & other publications
Below you can find project publications, reports, and guidebooks. These cover three main focus areas of the project: - darkness of nature and Dark Sky possibilities for tourism; - immersive technologies for tourism; - light pollution impacts and effects and ways to prevent or reduce it.
Darkness and Light Pollution Interpretation Panels
These free-to-use interpretation panels offer basic information on the benefits and significance of darkness and light pollution for a younger audience. They include stories of the dark skies, flora and fauna and tips for nighttime activities. First tested in a visitor centre of the Koli national park, they suit many purposes and destinations. The A3 sized panels were created by project partner Karelia UAS and are available in Finnish and English.
Immersive technology in tourism : Barriers and potential across the NPA region
Immersive technology is a growing industry that offers new opportunities for various industries, including tourism. However, findings from the GLOW2.0 project indicate that the adoption of immersive technologies among tourism businesses in Finland, Iceland, Ireland and Norway remains relatively limited. This case study aims to support the adoption of immersive technologies in tourism by offering a basic understanding of tools such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and 360-degree visualisations, illustrated through a real-world example.
https://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-275-461-5
GLOW2.0 Capacity Building Study Modules
GLOW2.0 Capacity Building Study Modules have been published! One way GLOW2.0 project aspired to enhance technical and business expertise of SMEs in tourism, was through a Capacity Building Programme (CPB). The programme focused on awareness and understanding about Dark Sky theme and concepts, and helped target groups develop and enhance service offers. The program was first realised in series of workshops, seminars and webinars in each participating region, to be later delivered in a self-study modules. GLOW2.0 capacity building and training program’s contents are based on a survey conducted with SMEs and stakeholders from all four participating regions in the project (Finland, Norway, Iceland and Ireland d 1.4.2023 – 15.5.2023), and on partners’ own knowledge of each region’s specified needs. Capacity building program’s series of modules have been categorized in three sections that match with the project’s work packages, with the additional introductory module designed to engage and inspire also those who are not yet familiar with the fascinating world of darkness and its tourism potential. All study modules are freely available and require no registration. The initial platform is Edukarelia, project partner Karelia UAS’s micro study platform. Through Edukarelia, the modules reach not only Karelia’s audience but are also linked to the Finnish national micro study platform, Opin.fi, ensuring broader visibility and impact for the project’s results. Additional platforms may be introduced depending on opportunities in each partner region. Initially, the modules will be available in English, with translations for partnering regions provided during the course of the project.
In this module you will learn what is Dark Sky Tourism and what are the possibilities of the nocturnal tourism.
Promoting dark sky tourism in remote areas comes with numerous advantages, benefiting both the environment and local communities. This form of tourism can bring economic growth to rural regions by attracting eco-conscious visitors who value sustainable practices. Dark sky tourism also promotes the preservation of natural wonders by reducing the impact of artificial light at night (ALAN), which negatively affects wildlife, human health, and the overall experience of visitors. Furthermore, focusing on natural night skies helps tackle the problem of tourism seasonality, drawing travelers throughout the year and ensuring balanced economic activity in these areas.
You can find this introductory study module at:
Embracing the Night -study module explores the concept of light pollution, providing a detailed explanation of what it is, its main causes, and its effects. You will learn how to observe, measure, and document light pollution, as well as discover practical ways to reduce, prevent, or reverse its impact. By completing this module, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of light pollution, including its appearance, its impact on the natural darkness and benefits of dark skies, and how individuals can contribute to preserving and improving these conditions.
Study modules are available in Edukarelia:
Embracing the Night I: Basics of natural darkness and light pollution
Embark on a mesmerizing journey into the heart of darkness with our exceptional Dark Sky tourism offerings, designed to captivate and enchant every traveler.
In this module, you will discover how to create exceptional Dark Sky tourism offerings that truly captivate your customers. By understanding distinct customer segments and defining who your ideal customers are, you will learn how to tailor your services to meet their specific needs. Additionally, we will cover the art of crafting memorable experiences and storytelling as integral components of your tourism offerings, highlighting how the unique allure of darkness can enhance and add value to your customers' adventures.
Study modules are available at Edukarelia:
Service Design for Dark Sky Tourism I: Identify your customer
Service Design for Dark Sky Tourism II: Define your idea
Service Design for Dark Sky Tourism III: Map your customer's experiences
Service Design for Dark Sky Tourism IV: Create a sellable product
This study module explores the opportunities immersive technologies offer for the tourism sector, especially for small and micro-enterprises in rural and remote areas. Based on insights from the GLOW2.0 project, the module highlights how XR technologies can enhance visitor experiences, support innovation, and open new avenues for storytelling and engagement, including night-time tourism experiences under starry skies.
Participants will learn how to overcome common challenges such as limited resources or technical know-how. Through inspiring examples and practical guidance learners will discover how immersive tools can be both accessible and impactful—helping tourism businesses stand out and thrive in a competitive market.
Study module is available in Edukarelia:
Immersive technology in tourism
Regional and Global Approaches to Dark Sky Tourism 25.3.2025
Regional and Global Approaches to Dark Sky Tourism webinar offered views on eastern Finland's tourism strategies and the possibilities to utilise Dark Skies in tourism. Programme: Regional culture and nature in responsible tourism offering. Helena Puhakka-Tarvainen, Entrepreneur & CEO, Lietsu Services Ltd. The role of Biosphere Reserves in responsible tourism development & tourism networking. Vilma Lehtovaara, Coordinator, ELY-Centre|North Karelia Biosphere Reserve. Observatory experiences for science and tourism - Challenges and Opportunities. Otto Huhta, Chairperson/ CEO, Seulaset Ry. Pearls of Kaavi: Dark Sky tourism development & branding. Seija Karhu, Kaavi municipality & Olli Reijonen, Entrepreneur & CEO, Syrjävaara Oy. Dark Sky tourism compatibility with North Karelia tourism strategy – challenges and opportunities. Terhi Millar, Development manager, Visit Karelia| Business Joensuu.
Regional and Global Approaches to Dark Sky Tourism
Regional and Global Approaches to Dark Sky Tourism presentations
Presentations from GLOW2.0 stakeholder webinar held 25.3.2025.
Helena Puhakka Tarvainen Lietsu Services Ltd
Regional culture and nature in responsible tourism offering
Vilma Lehtovaara ELY Centre
The role of Biosphere Reserves in responsible tourism development & tourism networking
Otto Huhta Seulaset Ry
Observatory experiences for science and tourism - Challenges and Opportunities
Low season travel - Harnessing the Magic of Darkness and Dark Skies 4.2.2025
Numerous sources like the BBC and Booking.com have predicted the key tourism trends for 2025 as being; off-the-beaten-track travel, Noctourism (nighttime travel experiences), Coolcation and Calmcation (quiet destinations). The trends and customer demands are there, but how can we harness the unique elements that our regions have to offer to attract tourists during the low season? The webinar will explore the international demand for low season travel and offer inspiring examples of how to create transformational tourism experiences. The webinar brings two Interreg projects; Light in the Dark and GLOW 2.0, together on the themes of seasonality in rural tourism and dark sky tourism. The projects, financed by Interreg BSR and Interreg NPA respectively, work in eight countries: Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
Low Season Travel - Harnessing the Magic of Darkness and Dark Skies
GLOW2.0 Regional webinar in Finland - Katse Taivaalle! Look to the Sky!
Presentations from GLOW2.0 Regional webinar in Finland – Katse Taivaalle!, held 23.1.2025.
Language: Finnish, auto-translated subtitles are suggested for non-Finnish speakers.
How to make the night sky part of your business? Where and how should one start, and whether one's skills are enough? These questions will be answered by four Finnish tourism entrepreneurs who represent northern expertise in the utilisation of starry sky phenomena and the commercialisation of auroral tourism.
>> Taivo Productions - Planetarium (link opens to YouTube)
Exploring the night sky indoors with a planetarium: introducing the nature, movement and types of objects in the night sky. Immersiveness in presentation devices and perspectives on how to emphasise it in presentation methods, as well as an analysis of the potential and challenges of VR glasses under the sky. Using a computer and a data projector to explore astronomy-related computer software that can be used in tourism to tell us about the night sky and our place in the universe.
>> Syrjävaara Goodnight - Observatorium and Dark-sky preserve (link opens to YouTube)
Establishing a Dark-sky preserve. Definition of darkness and dark sky preservation. Dark-sky preserve as a visitor destination and the infrastructure needed. Observing the quality of the night sky and observing and recording its phenomena.
>> Arctic Stargazing Tours - Starry sky as a basis for a tourism product (link opens to YouTube)
Creating a tourism product around the starry sky visible in the dark. Important partners and how to acquire them from the point of view of entrepreneurship: what is needed to start a business and what should be thought of as a strategy for the first years. What is required from an entrepreneur both know-how and experience based on good product - familiarization with the product card.
>> Aurora Village - Managing a successful tourism offering (link opens to YouTube)
What should be taken into account when designing a product for the dark period: location and accessibility, taking light pollution into account to increase the intensity of the experience, providing equipment, weather conditions. Guidance and expert guides: what is required from an expert guide?
GLOW2.0 Learning Journey Seminar in Blönduós, Iceland
Presentations from stakeholder seminar "Challenges and Opportunities for Responsible and Regenerative Tourism in Northern Periphery and Arctic" held in Blönduós, Iceland on 8.10. 2024. The wide selection of presentations range offer cultural, social, environmental, economic and scientific perspectives.
Petur Arason Darkness And Dark Skies For Hunabyggd
Embracing Darkness and understanding the values and benefits from it. The presentation focuses on opportunities of Darkness and Dark Skies for regions basing on Hunabyggd's nature and cultural heritage
Ólöf Ýrr Atladóttir Regenerative Tourism Perspectives Iceland
Dark Sky and Darkness values in regenerative tourism
Arnheiður North Iceland The Role Of DMMO In Tourism Development
What role DMMO can play in creating pathways and enabling inclusive tourism development
Jessica Aquino Intergrating Citizen Science Research In Tourism
Community development regenerative tourism approach based on Snaefellsnes Iceland case study; a practice example from the seal watching and reflecting it to the astronomy
Georgia Macmillan Citizen Science In Responsible Dark Sky Tourism
Wild Nephin National Park - Mayo Dark Sky Park citizen science intergration for responsible and sustainable tourism development.
Kristján Kristjansson Embracing Darkness In Lighting Design
What role can a lighting planner or designer play in protecting Darkness and Dark Sky values for science, heritage, environment and economy? Light is necessary but light pollution (unnecessary or excessive lighting) is not. Responsible nighttime lighting should consider the values and benefits of the night/ Darkness and Dark Skies. To become a good lighting designer, one must understand where not to add the light.
GLOW2.0 Regional event in Lapland - Katse Taivaalle! Look to the Sky!
Presentations from GLOW2.0 Regional webinar in Finland – Katse Taivaalle! held 27.9.2024.
Language: Finnish, auto-translated subtitles are suggested for non-Finnish speakers.
What is darkness? What role does Darkness play for tourism and science? Can Darkness be productized into a saleable tourism product? What roles can technologies play in productising Darkness? Where and how to start, and what resources are enough for a start?
These questions will be answered from below recordings of research expert from GLOW2.0 associated partner organization Sodankylä Geophysical Observatory, and four Finnish tourism entrepreneurs and forerunners in the utilisation of dark sky phenomena and the commercialisation of noctourism in Northern Periphery and Arctic (NPA) area.
>> What is Darkness and how to ensure its accessibility for tourism and science (link opens to YouTube)
What is Darkness? What does it mean in tourism context? Can Darkness be productised into a saleable tourism product or service? What examples of tourism products and activities exist?
Olli Reijonen, a researcher and owner of Syrjävaara Goodnight Oy, an over 300-year-old farm turned tourism destination, shares the story of his company and the developments made to develop Astro tourism and dark sky tourism at his facility. His talk answers to what means Darkness in tourism context. He also offers examples of visitor offering, sharing his company’s products and services as an example. He additionally shares insights about Dark Sky Places, a programme for SMEs, organisations, and communities interested in protecting and conserving the night sky from light pollution. He shares his experiences about establishing a dark sky preserve as a visitor destination, including the process and infrastructure needed, as a learning for those that might be interested in establishing Dark Sky Parks.
>> Planning successful Dark Sky and Nighttime experiences (link opens to YouTube)
What should be considered when designing darkness or nighttime experiences? How to develop safe darkness experiences considering also people with mobility restrictions and different age groups?
Juha Tuunanen, owner of Aurora Village Ivalo, offering glass roof accommodations complemented with other nighttime experiences, shares his experiences on how to create memorable, yet safe nighttime experiences. He discusses the significance of location and accessibility, importance of considering light pollution impacts on experiences, equipment offering, weather challenges, and visitor safety factors. He also touches on the value of guidance and most importantly the things to consider when choosing outsourced guided experience to complement own offers and brand image. He also touches on how networking with other service providers in the area, for example experienced local tour guides can elevate visitor experiences and contribute to circular economy.
>> Productising guided nature experiences as Dark Sky tourism product (link opens to YouTube)
What values and benefits do Darkness provide for tourism? How to turn those values into tourism products? Where and how to start, and what resources are enough to kickstart a guided tour experience offer? And how to guarantee the experiences promised in a region with unpredictable weather?
Aleksi Taipale, the owner of Arctic Stargazing Tours with vast experience working in Astronomy in both Arctic and New Zealand, shares his experiences and learnings on ways to productise Darkness into a guided tour tourist product. He talks about the process and needs for creating a successful tourism product around the night sky. He discusses things to consider when designing a product. Among other, customers, planning place of operation, clothing and equipment need and ways to deliver promised expectations. He also shares the importance of networking locally for tourism as part of “greening” of business models and enhancing sustainable tourism in destination of operations. For this, he shares own networking development learnings and offers insights about things to consider when choosing cooperation partners, and how to acquire them from the point of view of entrepreneurship.
>> Offering dark sky immersive experiences – hints and tips (link opens to YouTube)
How to use technologies to offer immersive experiences for tourists? Can immersive experiences help solve unpredictable or bad weather situations? Under what conditions is it worth investing in immersive solutions and equipment? What competence is needed to run an immersive content for immersive glasses or planetarium? And what practicalities must be considered to ensure great immersive visitor experiences?
Mikko Suominen, owner of the company Taivo Productions Oy offers expert insights into what to consider when designing and offering immersive experiences for visitors. His insights are based on his experiences as a science journalist, reporter and a planetarium entrepreneur. During his talk, he also gives a real-time demonstration of the planetarium experiences, to offer insights about what applications exist for those SMEs or organisations interested in providing similar astronomy-related experiences. He also offers knowledge on how to emphasise visitor engagement and analyse potential and challenges of planetariums and other immersive technologies.
>> The role Darkness plays in Northern Lights Citizen Science (link opens to YouTube)
Can Darkness and dark sky tourism activities enable cooperation between visitors and northern lights researchers? What role can Darkness play in bridging tourism and science?
Emma Bruus from GLOW associated partner organization Sodankylä Geophysical Observatory, shows the different types of northern lights occurrences and when and how they present themselves, and talks about the important role tourism activities such as dark sky observation and photography as part of citizen science can play for northern lights research.
GLOW2.0 International webinar – Embracing Dark Skies in Northern Periphery and Arctic Region
Presentations from GLOW2.0 International webinar – Embracing Dark Skies in Northern Periphery and Arctic Region, held 30.4.2024.
Duncan Wise Northumberland International Dark Sky Park
The economic value in Dark Sky tourism – Case study of Dark Sky tourism development around Northumberland National Park.
GLOW2.0 animation - Light pollution and responsible lighting for tourism
Along with the undeniable benefits of artificial light, light pollution has become one of the most common and fastest growing forms of environmental impacts. Light pollution is poorly directed or excessive artificial light at night (ALAN) that disturbs and impacts people, animals and plants. This light pollution animation explores the causes of light pollution, its effects and ways to reduce it. The animation was produced by third-year media students of Karelia University of Applied Sciences as a commission of the GLOW2.0 project.
Animation - light pollution and responsible lighting for tourism
GLOW2.0 Learning Journey Seminar in Narvik, Norway
Presentations from Embracing Dark Sky Tourism in Northern Periphery and Arctic Region stakeholder seminar held in Narvik, Norway on 7.2. 2024.
Glow 2 Project At UIT Visit Narvik 07.02.24
Trends, challenges and requirements for technological solutions for Northern Norway tourism.
Presentation SALT At GLOW
Trends and interest in nature tourism, science tourism & technology for tourism
VR and planetarium experiences
Exploring the impact of VR and planetarium experiences at Vitensenter Nordland.
VR and planetarium experiences at Vitensenter Nordland
The making of GLOW2.0 light pollution animation video
This publication's collection of articles offers an in-depth look at how the Karelia University of Applied Sciences responds to the educational challenges and opportunities of today and the future through applied education, practical research, and internationalisation. GLOW2.0 featured article in the publication (Supporting students work-life preparedness through RDI project, pages 28 - 32) describes how applied education and practical research were intertwined in the production of the GLOW2.0 animation video ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8HbeZQx-_Y ) for the project's international target groups.
Selected Perspectives on Internationalisation and Applied Education and Research 2024
Recommendations for those interested in Dark Sky tourism or light pollution prevention and protection
This GLOW2.0 document offers recommendations for tourism companies, organisations, or regions located within the Northern Periphery and Arctic area that are interested in Dark Sky tourism or light pollution prevention and protection. It is an outcome of NPA GLOW2.0 Northern Periphery and Arctic project survey that aimed at identifying the preservation efforts and initiatives for Dark Sky areas and light pollution in participating NPA regions. The study examined the existing strategies to Dark Sky Tourism in Ireland, Finland, Northwest Iceland, and Norway within the context of the NPA region. With a focus on regional development and policy implementation, the study investigated the unique approaches and initiatives adopted by these countries, shedding light on the workings of their respective regional landscapes.
Review Paper of Current Status and Strategies with regards to Dark Sky Tourism
Darkness, Life in the dark, Stories of the night sky and Adventure in the Dark!
Darkness can intimidate, but also awaken imagination and offer meaningful safe spaces. Darkness is needed so animals, plants and people can live and function according to own natural rhythm. Darkness also needs protection. The document gives hints about the values and benefits of the Night, the Dark Nature and how to Adventure in the Dark.