Businesses ready for April’s total solar eclipse
UNITED STATES (AP) — A total solar eclipse will cross North America on Monday, April 8, briefly turning day into dusk along a path through Mexico, the United States and Canada.
Totality will last up to 4 minutes and 28 seconds in certain spots, twice as long as the full solar eclipse that darkened US skies in 2017. There won’t be another coast-to-coast eclipse in the US until 2045.
The first location in North America that will experience totality is Mexico’s Pacific coast at approximately 2:07 pm. The eclipse will exit continental North America on the Atlantic coast of Canada at about 3:46 pm.
According to a report from the Associated Press, with April 8’s total solar eclipse right around the corner, businesses are ready for the celestial event. Special eclipse safety glasses are up for sale, along with T-shirts and other souvenirs.
AP News says hotels and resorts along the prime path are “luring in visitors with special packages and Southwest and Delta are selling seats on eclipse-viewing flights.”
Cities, museums and parks are also expected to stage watch parties to draw in tourists as well as residents.
“This is a special event and … the travel industry certainly is in a very good spot,” said Jie Zhang, a marketing professor at the University of Maryland’s business school. She also noted the eclipse craze arrives at a time when consumers are continuing to ramp up spending on new experiences.
