A board advertises eclipse glasses for sale at a restaurant ahead of the total solar eclipse in ... More
A billion-dollar economic windfall looks set to sweep across the parts of the U.S. in the path of April 8’s total solar eclipse. From huge surges in demand for hotels, flights and rental cars to meals, the filling up of gas tanks at local gas stations, tickets for events, souvenirs and post-eclipse bottles of champagne, a welcome economic boon for local communities will trail in the wake of the moon’s dark shadow. It could be like having 50 Super Bowls happening at the same time across the country.
Since there are typically many decades between a total solar eclipse in any one nation, few people see eclipses coming, and even fewer realize the business opportunity. This time, it’s different—there’s an all-American playbook from an almost identical event on August 21, 2017. That eclipse had a significant impact on retail, with national brands taking advantage of the buzz—something Delta and Days Inn are already doing, to name but two.
Astronomical circumstances mean it’s going to be an even bigger deal this time. This total solar eclipse promises to be a celestial spectacle with significant earthly consequences.
Largest Ever Tourist Event
“This is expected to be the single largest tourist event to ever happen in Indiana,” said Amy Howell, director of tourism, marketing and communications at Indiana Destination Development Corporation, in an email. “People will not only need places to stay and food to eat, but they will want keepsakes, memorabilia and things to do leading up to, and after, the eclipse.” Between 150,000 and 600,000 people are expected to travel to various destinations within Indiana to experience the eclipse.
On April 8 up to four million Americans are expected to drive into the 115 miles wide path of totality that stretches across parts of Mexico, 15 U.S. states and Canada. Texas, Indiana and Ohio are likely to be the busiest U.S. states.
The "diamond ring effect" during a total solar eclipse is only visible from within the narrow path ... More
Best High-Yield Savings Accounts Of 2024
Best 5% Interest Savings Accounts of 2024
America’s Eclipse Playbook
In the wake of 2017’s eclipse, a few in-depth studies were done by states within the path of totality that day. South Carolina reported 793,000 visitors from out of state who spent $269 million and Wyoming determined that 473,000 people traveled to their state and spent $167 million. “Based on these studies, we can estimate a similar outcome in Indiana,” said Howell.
Do the math, and on average, that’s a spend of $339 per visitor in South Carolina and $353 per visitor in Wyoming. Split the difference, and Indiana could make between $51.75 million and $207 million.
GreatAmericanEclipse.com predicts that between 931,000 and 3.725 million people could visit the path of totality on April 8. That could mean economic activity of between $321 million and $1.28 billion. How reliable these predictions are is unknown—they can only be ballpark figures—but it’s clear that April 8 could see a billion-dollar eclipse.
The ‘Eclipse Effect’
The “eclipse effect” on the U.S. economy won’t be consistently felt. In 2017, Nebraska reported $127 million of economic impact from 708,000 visitors—an average of $179 per visitor. That’s lower than what Wyoming and South Carolina reported. Besides, the famous changeable weather in spring across the path of totality will dictate where many day-trippers head to on April 8.
However, many communities in 2017 underestimated the “eclipse effect” in 2017. Nashville and Middle Tennessee expected 100,000 visitors would generate up to $10 million in revenue. Data later revealed that a million visitors generated over $29.6 million in revenue. Nashville ran out of eclipse glasses, while small towns often received double the number of visitors they’d planned for. “Brace yourself for surprises,” said Janet Ivey-Duensing, CEO and Founder of Janet’s Planet, who was an eclipse consultant for the Adventure Science Center in Nashville, Tennessee. “People didn’t just come for the eclipse, they came for an entire weekend.”
Bigger Deal In 2024
What happened in 2017 provides uniquely useful data, but there are things about 2024’s eclipse that make it potentially even more of a bigger deal:
- Totality will last longer—up to 4 minutes 26 seconds.
- Even aside from those expected to travel to totality, over 32 million U.S. residents live directly in the path compared with 12 million in 2017.
- The path of totality passes much closer to the densely populated northeast U.S.
April 8’s total solar eclipse will also occur over that most unusual of places—a country that is at least partly eclipse-literate, where there are people who already describe themselves as eclipse chasers. The sudden switching-off of the sun is a rare and priceless moment—and it will likely be hugely profitable to switched-on communities.
For the latest on all aspects of April 8’s total solar eclipse in North America, check my main feedfor new articles each day.
Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
