To be found in the show
The solar eclipse of August 12 causes a real tourist boom in Spain and Iceland. Increasing reservations, overpriced rooms, special cruises and millions of glasses sold: a few minutes of darkness are already turning a very lucrative market. Explanations.
The big winner of this craze is Spain, where the eclipse will be total over a strip crossing the north of the country to the Balearic Islands. According to Amadeus, flight reservations to airports located on its trajectory increased by 25% year-on-year. In Bilbao and Asturias, they have even more than quadrupled. Many visitors come especially for the event: stays of less than five days increase by more than 50%.
Accommodation prices are soaring
After studying more than 5,500 accommodations offered on Booking, El País notes that seven out of ten establishments have increased their prices in the full range. In Soria, in the center of the country, the median price for a night increased from 116 to 879 euros and, in León, in the north, from 59 to 445 euros.
Iceland is also benefiting from this influx: demand for short-term rentals is increasing by 44% in Reykjavik. Tour operators offer stays for more than 6,000 euros per person, while cruise lines offer itineraries in the Mediterranean with a unique point of view. Iberia is even organizing a special flight at an altitude of more than 10,000 meters, primarily for scientific purposes and to illuminate social networks.
The other market is that of certified glasses, essential for observing the eclipse without danger. The German manufacturer Bresser claims to have sold more than 10 million pairs in France alone. At around 2.50 euros per unit, this would represent up to 25 million euros in sales. Stocks are now almost exhausted.
