With the highly anticipated solar eclipse around the corner, businesses are expecting to see major revenue increases due to the high numbers of tourists flocking to the area.
A total eclipse will take place on April 8 and will be visible in the United States, where portions of 15 states, including Texas, will be in the path of the eclipse, according to NASA. Dallas is the largest city in the United States that will experience a total blackout during the eclipse.
The City of Dallas, which has been gearing up for the eclipse for weeks, announced on March 18 that it is prepared to host the expected influx of visitors, as previously reported by The Dallas Express. The City has increased public transportation options, designated various safe viewing locations equipped with viewing glasses and telescopes, and fostered partnerships with “local businesses, educational institutions, and astronomy enthusiasts” to secure “additional resources and expertise to ensure a seamless event.”
“Right now, we’re tracking about 35% more for business than we would normally have at this time in previous years,” Craig Davis, President/CEO of Visit Dallas, told NBC 5 DFW.
Research from the Perryman Group found that Dallas-Plano-Irving areas are expected to bring in $154,961,124 from direct expenditures related to eclipse tourism, with Dallas County expected to bring in $95,751,230. However, when the “downstream multiplier effects through the economy” are considered, those figures rise to $492,515,628 and $307,873,037, respectively. Statewide, the total estimated economic impact is nearly $1.4 billion.
While the business outlook for the event is definitely sunny, the actual weather forecast for the day has cast a shadow over some of the planned activities. Currently, weather experts are predicting cloudy conditions with a chance of rain on April 8.
For viewers in Dallas, the partial eclipse begins at 12:23 p.m., with the period of totality commencing at 1:40 p.m. and lasting a total of four minutes. The partial eclipse will end at 3:02 p.m.
To learn more about local events for the solar eclipse, check out this previous article written by The Dallas Express.
