Eclipse tourism generates millions in revenue for Oklahoma
The Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department (OTRD) is celebrating after southeast Oklahoma hosted a successful total solar eclipse event, generating millions of dollars through economic activity.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — The Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department (OTRD) is celebrating after southeast Oklahoma hosted a successful total solar eclipse event, generating millions of dollars through economic activity.
“Oklahoma was the best place in the country to watch the 2024 total solar eclipse,” said Shelley Zumwalt, Secretary of Tourism, Wildlife & Heritage and Executive Director of the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department.
Zumwalt says that visitors from over 40 states and multiple countries came to experience the eclipse at one of Oklahoma's State Parks and ended up generating an estimated $15 million which is one-third of the economic impact in the region.
"Events like the eclipse underscore the region’s capacity to attract and sustain substantial visitation, particularly as travel and tourism for experiences is on the rise. We’re looking forward to building on this momentum to bring even more visitors to Oklahoma.”
Oklahoma State Parks welcomed 122,674 visitors that expanded across seven parks in total to see the full or partial totality of the solar eclipse.
From April 4 through April 9, the region brought in an estimated total of $42 million from visitor activity.