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NewsTranscript
00:00The ribbon's cut and Prestine's newest attraction is open.
00:07The retreat offers an opportunity to stargaze when you book a stay at Rockbridge Country Holiday Park.
00:13Stargazer Davithwin Morgan was the first to stay and observe the night sky.
00:18It was incredible. It was so dark.
00:21I've travelled the world to visit dark places, places like Tenerife and Namibia in Africa.
00:26And this was very, very close to the experiences I've had in those countries.
00:32It's good for them as a business, a family business, but also for the local economy.
00:37I've already spent over £100 in Prestine and I haven't even been here yet more than 24 hours.
00:43So the local community and the jobs created are very, very important.
00:47The launch of the retreat comes as part of a tourism boom known as AstroTourism.
00:52Prestine and Norton became the first community in Wales to be designated as an international dark sky community by Dark Sky International.
01:01James Evans, MS for Bracken and Radnorshire, cut the ribbon and commended the family business for diversifying.
01:07But he is concerned that a proposed tourism tax could result in less people experiencing the natural Radnorshire landscape.
01:13Well, I've always been very clear. I don't want to see a tourism tax at all.
01:17But if they decide to introduce it, we need to make sure that that money is reinvested into the tourism economy.
01:23What I don't want to see is it reinvested paying for officers in County Hall.
01:27I want to see it invested into places like this to put footpaths, upgrade our footpaths, upgrade our town centres, put grants out for businesses to access money to upgrade facilities.
01:37That's what I want to see that money used for if it comes in. I don't want to see it there at all.
01:41But if it is going to come in, it needs to be used to support the tourism economy here and not support officers up in County Hall in Landrindad.
01:48Glenn Jones, who owns and runs the business with his wife Hannah, has learned a great deal since developing the experience.
01:55Dark Skies, Prestine's had this amazing initiative and been recognised for a dark sky community, first in the country, which is fantastic.
02:03And so on the back of that, we thought, what can we do?
02:07So we've got our telescopes and we've got our dome and we've had our astronomers here to tell us all about it.
02:14And it's one of those subjects, once you get into it, you get so fascinated.
02:19And, you know, DAF is here today, Lee from Prestine, and they're just so passionate about it.
02:25So I'm learning lots. It's amazing. And we've got a sunscope today. The sun is out.
02:29Local tourism is definitely at the heart of everything that Rockbridge decides to do.
02:34And with the opening of the retreat, it is clear that they are keen to get people in to appreciate the beauty of Radnorshire,
02:40whether it's the local landscape or the sky itself.
02:44Jack Strange, Brecon and Radnor Express.