As the solar eclipse frenzy subsides, New York State emerges as the unexpected winner in eclipse tourism.
Chasing the Eclipse
As millions of Americans geared up to observe the rare total solar eclipse, some found themselves moving from state to state – and even to the other side of the country – to participate in the event.
New York State Reaps Tourist Rewards
Eclipse-watching provided a healthy boost to tourism in New York State, where some regions provided the best view of the long-awaited astronomical occurrence.
The Ideal Spot
Since the eclipse passed through 27 counties in New York, it was one of the best states in the country to observe the phenomenon.
West and North
Travelers from inside and outside of the state fled to different regions of New York, most notably Western New York and North Country, to find a good location to watch the sun be eclipsed by the moon.
Bad Weather in Some Parts
Bad weather and cloud cover prevented many people in other areas of the state from viewing the eclipse, which explains why so many were on the move.
Three Days in a Strange Place
The President of the New York State Hospitality and Tourism Association, Mark Dorr, told reporters that people chose to spend “three days in a place they’ve never been before because of the eclipse.”
A Unique Position
“With our state so uniquely positioned to view this celestial wonder, people from around the country will be flocking to New York to see it for themselves and we will be ready,” State Division of Homeland Security commissioner Jackie Bray said prior to the event.
Four Million Swarm NY
Approximately four million people moved through New York on Monday, scrambling to reach the prime eclipse locations in time.
Plenty of Prep
The tourism sector in New York State was well prepared for the influx of tourists, according to Director of Interagency Operations Jessica DeCerce.
18 Months of Planning
She says that the state had been planning for and anticipating the tourist flood for 18 months leading up to the special event.
State Parks and Hotels Overrun
According to DeCerce, many state parks reached full capacity on the day, and hotels in main cities were fully booked both the night before and the night after.
100% Capacity
“We had 10 state parks across the state that reached full capacity yesterday,” she said on Tuesday.
“100% capacity. I was at Niagara Falls State Park and there were more than 45,000 people there.”
Two Nights of Full Bookings
“We had talk to hotels and our tourism partners all of their hotels were booked for 100% for two nights, which was great. And in April, it’s not tourism season in upstate New York necessarily.”
Most Popular Areas
The North Country and the Adirondacks saw the most traffic. Cities like Buffalo, Niagara Falls, and Rochester also attracted some of the biggest crowds.
Everything Went Smoothly
Tourism representatives and business owners in these areas are elated at what turned out to be a smooth and successful event, buoyed by excited operators and an industry prepared for the boost.
As Much As They Could Ask For
“People maybe had to put up a few more cones or a few more signs on getting people to the right parking area but overall, things went really as smooth as we can ask for,” said Michelle Clement, the marketing director for the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism.
No Rulebook to Follow
“Considering there was no rule book really to follow and this was a one-time event, things went pretty well,” Clement concluded.
Very Few Issues
The New York State Department of Transportation supported this sentiment, noting that there were only limited delays caused by traffic on Monday and a “handful of crashes” with no major issues.
Better Than 2017
At least in New York, it went more smoothly than the nation’s last solar eclipse, which occurred in 2017 and led to various issues, particularly on highways.
13 Hours of Congestion
Some regions in New York saw 13 hours of traffic congestion after the eclipse ended, and motorists attempted to leave the most popular regions at the same time.
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The post New York’s Eclipse Frenzy Generates Millions in Tourism Revenue first appeared on From Frugal to Free.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / James Kirkikis.
The content of this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute or replace professional financial advice.
