Plaque for Merit in Tourism for emerging destinations
The Council of Ministers of the Spanish Government grants this award to the Island of La Palma for being able to position itself as an active destination, and a non-conventional one thanks to, among other things, star tourism. This is to acknowledge that the Palmerans have taken advantage of the quality of the sky for professional and amateur astronomy.
Starlight Reserve and Tourist Destination
La Palma has become the first Starlight Reserve and Tourist Destination in the world. One of the main objectives of the Starlight Tourist Certification System is to encourage, at an international level, an increase in quality of tourist experiences and the protection of the skies.
Canary Islands’ Gold Medallion
The Spanish Government awards the Canary Islands’ Golden Medal to the “Palmeran sky”. The medal recognizes the quality of these skies, which has given La Palma one of the biggest concentrations of professional telescopes; and the awareness, collaboration and respect of the Palmerans, and of the other Canarian residents, towards the Roque de Los Muchachos Observatory.
César Manrique Environment Award 2009
Award given to the promoters, among them the Island Council of La Palma, of the Starlight Initiative, celebrated for the first time on the island of La Palma on the 19th and 20th of April of 2007. The Starlight Initiative fights, at an international level, for the defence of the night sky’s quality, allowing for the enjoyment and contemplation of the universe as a scientific, cultural and human right.