With clouds limiting the view of April's total eclipse, fewer tourists showed up. That meant fewer dollars flowed in.
April's total eclipse certainly brought tourists and tourists' dollars into the Hill Country — but not as many of either as local officials and business owners would have liked. Much of the Hill Country was supposed to be prime viewing territory for April 8's rare total eclipse, a celestial spectacle that occurs when the moon completely blocks the view of the sun, plunging everyone in the path of totality into complete, if temporary, midday darkness.
Stinging bearded fireworms washing up on Texas beaches Ahead of the eclipse, local officials and economists said that in addition to money spent at stores, restaurants and hotels, the event would be an opportunity for the Hill Country to market itself to visitors. Assigning a monetary value to that impact is difficult, though, said Haiyong Liu, chair of the economics department at Texas State University.
Buc-ee's could start work on San Marcos travel center in October, filing says Still, the eclipse was a net positive for local retailers, restaurants and hotels, Behrens said. Kerrville collected about $211,500 in hotel occupancy tax in April, up from $165,000 in April of 2023, and officials estimate 85% of hotel rooms in the city were booked. 'It was really good for our businesses,' she said. 'A million dollars spread over our business community — yes, that was an impact.
Texas State University NASA Buc-Ee's Julie Behrens Haiyong Liu Kevin Lyons Chris Shadrock Hill Country Kerrville Fredericksburg Texas Boerne San Antonio San Marcos
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