People from all over the world travel to North Texas for the solar eclipse. The Federal Aviation Administration is warning of possible flight delays and traffic jams.
DALLAS, Texas — More than 400,000 people are expected to gather in Dallas alone this weekend for a historic solar eclipse.
And across Texas, numerous counties are in the path of the total solar eclipse, with at least 1 million tourists expected to visit the Lone Star State.
As excitement builds, hotels, Airbnbs, parks, and other locations are nearly all booked and crowded.
According to data released by Airbnb, nearly 90% of its units in the U.S. are occupied.
Some hotels across the country are so crowded that reservations have to be canceled and guests are unable to stay. Dallas city officials said in a report last week that 99% of all downtown hotel rooms were booked before the eclipse.
Texas parks are also expected to be crowded. According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, more than 90% of campgrounds in the 31 parks along the consolidation path are reserved.
A representative from the ministry said hotel reservations on the day of the eclipse have doubled compared to this time last year. There are currently 31,672 reservations.
As for wildlife, biologists and scientists will closely observe animals at the Fort Worth Zoo to watch for “strange behavior.”
People from all over the world are expected to flock to the DFW area this weekend. That means the airport will also be crowded. The Federal Aviation Administration is warning of possible flight delays and traffic jams.
This is expected to be a massive economic boom for Texas. Economist Ray Perryman said the state could see more than $428 million in economic benefits starting this weekend.
Perryman's company estimates that restaurants will benefit by up to $180 million, retail stores by $280 million and short-term rentals and hotels by $221 million.
And eclipse or not, be careful if you're going out this weekend and Monday, officials say.
The Texas Department of Transportation warns drivers to look up at the sky and watch for distracted people, to keep headlights on even during the day while driving, and to not wear eclipse glasses while driving. are doing.
