Hotels in Zaragoza are nearly full due to the eclipse: “We have clients from Japan, Finland, and the United States”

Less than a week remains before the sky darkens for a few minutes and Zaragoza becomes one of the best places in Spain to view the solar eclipse . While thousands of people are already preparing their certified eclipse glasses, the astronomical phenomenon is also making its presence felt in hotel receptions. Reservations are piling up, languages ​​are changing, and the same explanation is repeated on the other side of the counter: “We’re here for the eclipse.”

Horeca Hoteles Zaragoza forecasts an occupancy rate of 93.78% for the night of August 12, the highest figure of the summer, driven mainly by the arrival of international travelers. 

HOTELS ALMOST FULLY BOOKED FOR THE NIGHT OF THE ECLIPSE

The forecasts are already becoming a reality for the establishments. At the Hotel Río Arga , occupancy for those dates is “at 99%, practically full ,” explains its receptionist, José Gabriel Castro. “Almost all of them are foreigners. At most, there will be 5% domestic clients,” he assures.

A very similar situation is being experienced at the Hotel Don Jaime 54. Its manager, José Carlos Usón, acknowledges that the increase in reservations compared to last year has been evident. “We’re practically full on the 11th and 12th, and we’ve also noticed a lot of activity before and after,” he says. In his case, he estimates that between 90% and 95% of the guests arriving next week will be international .

At the Hotel Inca, occupancy for those days is also practically guaranteed. “We’re usually full, and we’re also full during the eclipse,” says the head of reception, Raquel Melero.

TOURISM THAT ARRIVES WITH A SINGLE GOAL: THE ECLIPSE

Beyond the high occupancy level, hotels agree on another aspect: most visitors will stay in Zaragoza only for the time necessary to enjoy the eclipse.

At the Hotel Río Arga, the usual stay will be “one or two days” . “They arrive the day before the eclipse and leave the next day. Very few stay the whole week,” explains Castro.

José Carlos Usón observes the same trend from the Hotel Don Jaime 54, where the average stay will be “a couple of days.” The Hotel Pilar Plaza confirms this as well. “They come only for the eclipse, two or three days at most ,” summarizes Ben, one of the hotel’s receptionists.

THE ECLIPSE INTERNATIONALIZES ZARAGOZA

The eclipse will also completely change the visitor profile. According to Horeca Hoteles Zaragoza, during the peak days of the phenomenon, 56.65% of travelers will be international , compared to 43.35% domestic, a situation completely different from that recorded in July, when Spanish tourism represented 81% of the hotel guests in the capital.

The nationalities of guests arriving at hotels confirm this trend. At the Hotel Pilar Plaza, they say they are receiving reservations “from all over the world .” “We have clients from Finland, Japan, England, and Germany, among many other countries,” explains Ben.

Horeca’s forecast also places the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Japan, Germany, Italy, South Korea and the Netherlands among the main source markets, consolidating the eclipse as an international attraction for Zaragoza.

“People write to us saying they are coming to see the eclipse.”

One of the most striking details comes from the Hotel Inca. As Raquel Melero explains, many guests not only book for those dates, but also specify the reason for their trip . “Most have booked through Booking.com or our website, and in the comments they write that they are coming to see the eclipse,” she says.

Horeca Hoteles Zaragoza expects bookings to continue rising in the coming days thanks to last-minute reservations. “We believe that last-minute bookings will continue because there is special interest in this event,” said Antonio Presencio, president of Horeca Hoteles Zaragoza. They also highlighted that the eclipse will attract “a type of customer who doesn’t usually come to Zaragoza at this time of year,” an opportunity the sector hopes to capitalize on to strengthen the city’s international standing.