Following the spectacular solar eclipse event last Monday (April 8th), which swept across the United States, the cities of Buffalo and Syracuse in upstate New York saw a significant economic boost as a result of the influx of tourists.
According to the latest report from Bloomberg, hotels and restaurants in Buffalo experienced a 32% increase in consumer spending in the days leading up to the eclipse, while Syracuse saw a nearly 28% growth in related consumption.
The total solar eclipse traversed Mexico, the United States, and Canada last Monday, garnering widespread attention. As the moon passed between the sun and the earth, completely blocking the sun, the entire sky darkened, resembling a dawn or dusk scene. During this period, the darkened sky brought about a unique experience of daytime darkness.
Analysis shows that from April 5th to 8th, cities and regions in the United States located along the path of totality or in close proximity witnessed a significant rise in tourism-related spending. Hotels and Airbnb accommodations were nearly fully booked during the eclipse.
The top five US cities with the highest consumption growth, aside from the eclipse path, include Austin, Texas with a 27% increase; Cleveland, Ohio with a 26.5% increase; and Dallas, Texas with a 26.2% increase. These figures were calculated based on data from Fiserv’s SpendTrend, which collects all card transactions from millions of businesses nationwide.
While New York City was not in the path of totality, all five boroughs were able to observe a partial solar eclipse. In Staten Island, the eclipse reached an obscuration level of 89% around 3:25 PM, prompting residents to don eclipse glasses and safely witness the phenomenon outdoors in parks and public spaces.
This eclipse not only provided a rare viewing opportunity for astronomy enthusiasts but also significantly boosted the economy of certain cities within New York State, particularly in the tourism and service sectors.