When the sun says goodbye to the horizon, the world, as is known, gets new shapes and meanings. Natural cities and landscapes, once familiar to the light of day, become unexplored scenarios that patiently await the discovery. The night thus inherits an ancestral charm, for the colors that paint it, for the sounds, smells and plots that surround it.
You are reading an article without paid access. Make a donation to help keep the newspaper for free online.
In recent years, this charm seems to have expanded to various geographical areas, finally increasing a new trend in the tourism sector, nocturnal tourism, also known as “nocremism”.
Night tourism assumes that tourist activities planned after sunset occur. After all, experiments that may vary from stars and cultural tours to gastronomic events and visits to illuminated historical points. The goal is to provide a new way of exploring the destinations, without pressure of the daytime crowd and under the unique charm of the night.
Visitors have chosen destinations with low light pollution and areas far from large urban centers, in order to attend unique and beyond celestial events. Among the most surprising activities include the observation of the Boreal Auroras in Iceland, the starry sky in the Atacama desert, the night wildlife in Zambia and the nightmare parade of penguins in Australia.
However, this segment is not limited to occurring in the remote regions. In the heart of the cities it is possible to find services intended for this, such as museums, night markets and guided tours. Taiwan, for example, is full of night markets, which represents about 100 throughout the country, open from the late afternoon to the first morning or until dawn.
Many experts associate the growing interest in this trend with the gradual increase in global average temperatures, especially in the summer months, when daytime activities are influenced by extreme heat. In addition, the opening phenomena encouraged tourists to reorganize their working hours for lower flow periods to enjoy more authentic and peaceful moments.
According to a study booking.com of tourist trends for 2025, which involved 27,713 participants of 33 distinct countries:
– 54% of respondents said that night activities to escape the daytime heat;
– 61% revealed the intention of reducing the time spent in the light of the sun.
The truth is that this segmentary offers new ways to explore the destinations, but also adds a wide range of other benefits that affect not only on visitors but also in local communities. First of all, the possibility of enjoying more exclusive and engaging services and activities, far from the usual excitement of the daytime hours. In addition, extending the conventional time of tourist activities, companies have the opportunity to expand their margin of performance and profit.
Another relevant aspect is the reduced environmental impact of the segment. A balanced distribution of tourist flows throughout the day and at night will allow him to minimize overcrowding and wear of historical-natural attractions, as well as reducing excessive energy consumption.
On the other hand, the challenges should not be ignored. Safety is one of the most critical factors, since the reduction of public lighting in some territories can represent an obstacle to circulation. Many cities need legislative adjustments to predict and authorize these activities.
Another essential pillar is the training of professionals in the sector who should be trained to meet the growing demand and their needs, in order to guarantee an insurance, organized and quality service, in particular.
Night tourism should therefore be strategically designed and planned in a logic of balance between experience and responsibility, in order to ensure that the demand does not compromise the conservation of available natural and cultural resources, as well as the safety of visitors and residents.
You also know others 10 tourist trends for the year 2025studied by the IPDT.
* Item originally published on the IPDT website.
Follow the newsdeaveiro.pt channel on WhatsApp.
Advertising and services
»You can quickly activate promotional campaigns in the online newspaper NotíciaiasseAveiro.pt, as well as requesting other services. Consult information to include online advertising.
