Topline: The first total solar eclipse in the U.S. in seven years is slated to occur on April 8, sparking significant anticipation among states and businesses as it presents a substantial tourism opportunity, with an estimated 3.7 million people expected to travel for the event.
Key Facts:
- Delta Airlines responded to the demand by announcing a second flight along the eclipse’s path from Texas to Detroit after the initial flight sold out within 24 hours, indicating a surge in interest with search results for Delta flights from Austin to Detroit spiking by 1,500% following the announcement.
- Smithsonian Journeys is offering five-day trips to Texas Hill Country, San Antonio, and the outskirts of Austin, priced at $5,695, enabling travelers to witness the total solar eclipse.
- Sky & Telescope magazine partnered with Insight Cruises to organize a 15-day cruise priced at $2,300, coinciding with the total solar eclipse in Mexico.
Background:
- The eclipse’s path of totality, where the moon entirely blocks out the sun, will traverse 15 states, including Texas, Illinois, New York, Arkansas, Ohio, and Maine, prompting states like New York to encourage eclipse tourists to extend their trips into full vacations.
- States like Arkansas and Kentucky anticipate significant tourism influxes, with the Arkansas state House of Representatives expecting around 2 million visitors, while Kentucky expects 150,000 eclipse tourists.
- Nebraska, South Carolina, and Wyoming saw substantial economic impacts from the 2017 total solar eclipse, with millions of dollars generated from out-of-state visitors.
- NASA predicts a larger audience for this year’s eclipse due to its wider path and passage through more densely populated areas compared to the 2017 event.
Tangent:
- A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and Earth, completely obscuring the sun’s face, lasting up to four-and-a-half minutes. The next North American total solar eclipse is slated for 2033, visible only in Canada, followed by another occurrence in 2044, visible in the contiguous U.S.