These cities are already prepared to welcome thousands of people drawn by the phenomenon; the Pearl of the Pacific boasts massive reservations from foreigners in the hotel sector.
Torreón, Durango, and Mazatlán are expecting the arrival of thousands of tourists, as the phenomenon will be fully visible there; in Mexico City, schools and planetariums are already setting their sights on the sun, while the port will have the largest concentration of astronomy enthusiasts and scientists. The authorities of the entities anticipate about 50,000 tourists; they say there is still accommodation available.
Coahuila Expects Thousands of Visitors and a Multimillion Economic Inflow
The visit of thousands of people and a multimillion economic inflow is what is expected in Torreón, Coahuila, and Durango due to the total solar eclipse that will be seen here at 100%.
Francisco Martínez Lombas, president of the Torreón Convention and Visitors Bureau, assured that at least 30,000 people are expected to visit this city, chosen by NASA to carry out a special broadcast during the eclipse.
In Durango, the neighboring state, more than 20,000 people are expected, commented Olivia Fernández, Undersecretary of Planning and Tourist Development of Durango.
Both assured that —as of two days ago— there was still availability of accommodation, both in hotels and on platforms or in campsites.
The president of the Torreón Convention and Visitors Bureau explained that they expect the visit of 400 British, 400 Germans, 180 Japanese, and others from countries such as Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Spain, or Italy, all to observe the eclipse.
He added that for two years now, NASA personnel have also been present in the city for this event.
Olivia Fernández indicated that in Durango there are also identified groups that will arrive in these days from Italy, England, the United States, Canada, Portugal, Japan, and China, among others.
“We now have 80% hotel reservations, we still have hotel capacity to receive visitors, but it’s not just people who choose a hotel, there’s also a big demand for Airbnb and in camping areas,” she mentioned.
She specified that in Durango they have identified 15 zones where observation camps will be held in municipalities such as Canatlán, Nuevo Ideal, Mapimí, or Nazas, which can accommodate up to 15,000 people in total, and currently, 35% is already occupied.
In Torreón, which is not a city with high tourist influx, there is an offer of hotel rooms of 3,000 rooms, not counting the availability in the neighboring municipality of Gómez Palacio, Durango, or the rooms in motels.
“A lot of people come to camp. Many universities have offered campsites. They arrive on platforms like Airbnb, they go to country houses, to small ranches. There are even those who rent rooftops because a lot of people come from all over the world,” the official commented.
For her part, Olivia Fernández mentioned that in Durango they have been working for more than a year with the municipalities and private initiative in training personnel to receive tourists.
Courses were also given to have safe observations, work was done on the repair of roads, provision of drinking water, and organization of landfills, among other aspects.
In Durango, they expect an economic inflow greater than 300 million pesos during this weekend, while Torreón estimates at least 50 million pesos just in the hotel part.
Sinaloa Expects the Arrival of 750,000 People from Various Countries
The port of Mazatlán, Sinaloa, is another setting where the total solar eclipse will be visible, and where the largest concentration of astronomy enthusiasts, scientists, and citizens attracted by this phenomenon is expected.
About 750,000 people from various parts of the world are expected to arrive for this event.
National and international flights to the Pearl of the Pacific have practically sold all their spaces, and hotel availability is exhausted.
Along the 21 kilometers of the Mazatlán boardwalk, six observation points will be set up, which will close vehicular traffic.
With the massive reservations of foreign visitors from Asia, Canada, Europe, and the United States, lodging rates have risen considerably, to the extent that in some luxury hotels the cost per night in a double room is 13,300 pesos.
However, in tourist spaces near the city, such as La Noria, El Quelite, and the Villa Unión syndicate, there are more modest hotels with rates ranging from 1,600 to 3,200 pesos per night.
Ricardo Velarde Cárdenas, head of the Secretary of Tourism, acknowledged that the 13,000 hotel rooms that Mazatlán has become insufficient to cover the accommodation requests for these dates.
Observation by the Seaside
Along the 21 kilometers of the Mazatlán boardwalk, the longest in the country, six observation points will be set up, which will close vehicular traffic.
At these points, there will be local, national, foreign astronomers, and NASA scientists, who will make transmissions from the Sea of Cortez aquarium.
In the Lighthouse area, a space will be opened for 1,600 people to observe the solar eclipse, of which 600 will be able to go up to the highest part, and the remaining 1,000 will be accommodated on the breakwater.
The Rodolfo Sánchez Taboada square, located on Claussen walk, in the area of the divers, a Sunday stroll site for the families of the port, will also be an observation site.
In addition, controlled observation camps will open from Sunday morning on the beaches of La Labrada, in the municipality of San Ignacio, and in the beach area of Ceuta Bay, in the municipality of Elota.
Francisca Cazarez Oliveros, president of the Mazatlán Chamber of Commerce and Tourist Services, highlighted that this event attracts a different type of visitor, as a large number of scientists, researchers, and astronomy experts from various parts of the world are expected, so they must be given the best attention to make them feel comfortable and return.
For the mayor of Mazatlán, Édgar González Zatarain, this is a great opportunity for the city to show its best face, as the total solar eclipse will give them international projection.
Security in the port and rural areas will be in charge of 1,060 elements of the state preventive and municipal police, backed by 600 members of the National Guard, Navy, and Army, who will start security operations this Friday in areas where a greater influx of visitors is expected.
Source: El Universal
