The 2024 solar eclipse has brought attention and tourism to New Brunswick, with people traveling from all around the world to witness the event. This influx of tourists has benefited businesses in the area, such as the Delta Hotels by Marriott in Fredericton, where reservations are nearly full leading up to the eclipse. Various organizations in Fredericton have planned eclipse-related events as part of EclipseFest, including an astronomy talk, a watch party, and a planetarium show. The Beaverbrook Art Gallery is also displaying a painting of an eclipse, attracting visitors from around the world.
Spencer Beggs and his daughter Elouise traveled from Dalhousie, N.B. to Fredericton to view the eclipse in its line of totality. They visited the eclipse painting and took part in various eclipse-related tourist attractions. The excitement surrounding the eclipse has created a buzz in the city, with people eager to witness the rare event. Luis Cardoso, CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of New Brunswick, sees this as an opportunity to promote astronomy-related tourism or “astrotourism” in the region. With New Brunswick’s rural areas and four dark sky preserves, there is a unique opportunity to attract visitors interested in stargazing.
Cardoso believes that New Brunswick’s clear skies and lack of light pollution make it an ideal destination for astrotourism, as 85% of the world’s population lives under polluted skies. EclipseFest has highlighted the potential for promoting stargazing and astronomy in the region, with a focus on the daytime sky during the eclipse event. The success of the 2024 solar eclipse in drawing tourists to New Brunswick has showcased the region’s potential as a hub for astrotourism, with opportunities to capitalize on its unique natural environment and dark sky preserves. The event has brought attention to the beauty of the night sky and the potential for stargazing tourism in the region, opening up new avenues for economic growth in the tourism industry.
