A conceptual framework for experiential astrotourism: from stargazing to storytelling

Purpose This study aims to integrate the emerging astrotourism literature to reconceptualize the night sky not alone as a scientific asset but as a narrative terrain. It presents a conceptual model that views legendary storytelling and protecting dark skies as the two primary components of sustainable, life-changing tourism experiences. Design/methodology/approach The paper presents a conceptual literature review methodology, utilizing interdisciplinary academic sources, institutional reports and international certification frameworks relevant to astrotourism, cultural astronomy, mythology and dark sky preservation. Findings The paper demonstrates that astrotourism is more than just a nature-based activity; it is also a culturally significant and symbolically rich means of travel. Mythological stories make people feel more connected, give them a feeling of place and help them remember things. Dark sky preservation programs, on the other hand, help with sustainability, making destinations stand out and getting people involved in their communities. The suggested paradigm emphasizes storytelling and environmental preservation as essential components of significant astrotourism encounters. Research limitations/implications This study presents a complete conceptual framework that situates astrotourism as a storytelling-oriented experiential tourism paradigm, drawing insights from tourism studies, astronomy, mythology and sustainability research. The research enhances the literature by emphasizing mythical and celestial tales as insufficiently examined yet potent catalysts for significant, sustainable and transformative astrotourism experiences. Practical implications This study shows how astrotourism can help sustainable destination development by making tourism less seasonal, getting more people involved in the local community and raising environmental awareness through educational and interpretative activities. In addition, the adoption of dark-sky-friendly infrastructure, energy-efficient lighting and low-impact management practices is essential for minimizing ecological impacts while maintaining high-quality visitor experiences. Social implications This research enhances the astrotourism literature by redefining astrotourism as a narrative-driven experiential tourism model instead of merely a specialized category of nature-based or alternative tourism. It presents dark skies and celestial occurrences not merely as passive natural resources but as narrative landscapes that gain sensory significance through mythological storytelling and interpretation. The research enhances experience economics and narrative transportation theories by illustrating that mythical storytelling serves as a fundamental experiential mechanism that converts astronomical observation into cognitive, emotional, symbolic and spiritual experiences. The study expands narrative transportation theory to nature-based and science-focused tourism contexts, illustrating how storytelling facilitates emotional engagement, meaning-making and memorability in non-fictional, place-based environments. The proposed astrotourism experience model presents a comprehensive theoretical framework that connects narrative and collective awe to sustainability outcomes, including environmental awareness, dark sky conservation, destination distinction and community engagement. The study emphasizes mythology and celestial narratives as theoretically underexplored yet potent catalysts for meaningful and sustainable astrotourism encounters by integrating experiential tourist and sustainability views. Originality/value This study introduces an integrative framework that conceptualizes astrotourism as an experiential tourism paradigm, emphasizing the transformative role of mythological and celestial interpretation. Highlights