Rare astronomical phenomena continue to have a direct impact on tourism and accommodation bookings in several regions of Europe. In Portugal, the approach of a total solar eclipse is already altering tourist demand in the Northeast of Trás-os-Montes, with dozens of visitors trying to secure a place in one of the few areas of the country where the phenomenon can be observed in full.
According to the news agency, the municipality of Bragança began to register a strong demand for accommodation for the night of August 12th, the date on which the total solar eclipse will occur. In many cases, hotels, rural accommodation and campsites are no longer available for that time.
Search that started months before
In the center of Bragança, the Hotel Tulipa ran out of rooms available for the night of the eclipse. The owner, Elisabete Raimundo, explained to the news agency that orders started to increase about a month ago, mainly through direct contacts made by customers.
According to the same source, many visitors realized that the dates were already unavailable on online booking platforms and chose to contact the accommodations directly. The businesswoman admitted that several orders had to be refused due to lack of capacity.
Phenomenon lasts just 26 seconds
The total solar eclipse can be observed in full in the Montesinho Natural Park, more specifically in the village of Guadramil, in the parish of Rio de Onor. According to the same source, the moment of total occultation of the Sun should last around 26 seconds.
The Bragança Living Science Center explains that this phenomenon occurs when the Earth, Moon and Sun are aligned, allowing the Moon to completely cover the solar disk for a few moments. The organization also recalls that the last total eclipse observed in Portugal took place in 1912 and that the next one should only occur in 2144.
Rural accommodation was also completed
In the middle of the Montesinho Natural Park, the rural accommodation managed by Luís Correia, in the village of Vilarinho, was also fully reserved. The businessman revealed to Lusa that he opened reservations for August in February and that the spaces were filled in just eight days. Many visitors decided to extend their stay to enjoy the trip and get to know the region. There are reservations for three and four nights, driven not only by the eclipse, but also by gastronomy and contact with nature.
The high demand also extended to campsites in the region. The Sobre Águas park, which has areas for tents, caravans, motorhomes and two bungalows, has received calls practically every day. According to the same source, the two bungalows have been reserved for around two months and requests for information continue to increase as the date approaches. Many visitors look for alternatives to traditional accommodation, mainly due to the scarcity of available rooms in the city.
Online reservations with almost no options
The news agency tried to make an online reservation for the night of August 12th to 13th in units in the municipality of Bragança and concluded that practically all offers were full. The occupancy rate was around 99 percent across booking platforms.
Interest in the eclipse also led the Centro de Ciência Viva de Bragança to prepare a special mobility plan for visitors. Vehicle access to the village of Rio de Onor will be restricted during the day of the phenomenon.
Special transport to watch the eclipse
Given the limitations of the small Trás-os-Montes village, a bus transport service will be made available between Bragança Aerodrome and Rio de Onor. The objective is to reduce the number of vehicles in the region and ensure safety conditions.
The same source mentions that registrations to watch the eclipse are limited and can be done online. The amount paid by participants will be used to support local cultural associations and guarantee the distribution of certified glasses for safe observation of the phenomenon.
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