Key facts
- Hotel prices in European cities have surged due to tourism for the total solar eclipse.
- Reykjavík, Iceland, saw a 98% price increase for hotel rooms.
- Spain anticipates 460,000 overseas tourists for the event.
- Hotel rates in A Coruña, Spain, increased by 135%.
- Spanish authorities are implementing strict fire prevention measures.
Hotel prices across Europe have seen a significant surge as hundreds of thousands of tourists descend upon the continent for the first total solar eclipse visible from Europe this century. Iceland's capital, Reykjavík, is experiencing one of the most dramatic price increases, with average hotel room rates jumping 98% to $793 on August 12 compared to the previous year.
Spain is also anticipating a large influx of visitors, with the finance ministry expecting 460,000 overseas tourists specifically for the eclipse. In A Coruña, hotel room prices have risen by 135% to an average of $451, while prices in Mallorca have increased by 24% to about $448. Other Spanish cities like Santiago de Compostela and Bilbao have also seen substantial price hikes of 34% and 67% respectively.
Accommodation in smaller towns and villages along the eclipse's path has been booked for months. Authorities in Spain, however, are concerned about the heightened risk of fires due to exceptionally dry conditions. They anticipate 1.5 million more car journeys than usual and are deploying 35,000 officers to manage safety and minimize risks. Measures include banning barbecues, fireworks, and parking near dry vegetation, with some natural parks closed.
This year, wildfires have already scorched approximately 200,000 hectares in Spain, a sixfold increase compared to the same period in the previous year. For those unable to witness the event in person, Nasa has set up four high-powered telescopes in Villalibado, Spain, to live stream the eclipse to an estimated 10 million people. A partial solar eclipse will also be visible across the UK.