The total solar eclipse passing over parts of the United States next week is set to bring an influx of tourists and with it, nearly $1.5 billion.
According to a report from Time, the solar eclipse is set to be a major event for local economies that will end up in its 70-mile path, with millions of people traveling to see the solar spectacle.
Bulent Temel, an assistant professor of practice in economics at the University of Texas at San Antonio, came up with the $1.5 billion figure, and he shared with Time that several industries will see an economic boost.
“That number will include lodging costs for visitors coming from out of state or far away parts of their own state, as well as gas costs and food costs,” Temel said.
Great American Eclipse, a site that tracks solar eclipses around the world, shared that an estimated one to four million people are expected to travel for the eclipse on April 8.
The Federal Aviation Administration is estimating that the days leading up to the eclipse will be some of the busiest travel days of the season, with nearly 50,000 flights on April 4 and 5.
John Dowen, the Director of Impact Analysis at Camoin Associates, shared with Time that this means spending isn’t going to come on one day but throughout the week.
“[The eclipse] is on a Monday, so you might have folks coming Friday, Saturday, Sunday, spending a few days somewhere ahead of the event,” Downen said.
But while many will be journeying to small towns for the solar event, Temel says many will be working to entice visitors to come back when the sun is shining like normal.
“Every single one of those visitors is a potential future visitor to the same area as well,” Temel said. “In the long run, the economic impact would be magnified quite significantly.”