Forget the beach, Spain’s next tourism hotspot could be under the Moon’s shadow

BURGOS (Spain), July 8 — As a child, Enrique Bordallo would gaze in awe at the star-filled skies above rural Spain.

Next month, the astronomy enthusiast will finally get to witness something even more spectacular — and he won’t be alone.

“We’re absolutely buzzing,” said Bordallo, president of the Burgos Astronomy Association, as he explained the upcoming total solar eclipse to dozens of eager residents in the northern village of Belorado.

“We’re eager for this to happen now, to experience it, for the weather to be right, for everything to work,” he told AFP.

The total solar eclipse on August 12 – Spain’s first since 1905 – will plunge parts of the country into darkness for just 90 seconds.

But while the celestial show will be brief, the tourism boom it is expected to spark could leave a much longer-lasting impact on Spain’s often-overlooked rural heartland.

The eclipse’s “band of totality” will sweep across sparsely populated parts of northern Spain, including Castile and Leon, bringing global attention to regions better known for shrinking populations than packed tourist attractions.

“Castile and Leon isn’t always in the news, and unfortunately foreigners stay more on the coast,” said anthropologist Belen Molinuevo Puras, whose family comes from Belorado.

“We’re really excited that it’s happening in this area,” she said during a stargazing event organised by the local astronomy association.

Stars align for rural Spain

Spain is already the world’s second most-visited country after France, but officials have been trying to steer visitors away from overcrowded beach destinations such as Barcelona and towards lesser-known inland regions.

With total solar eclipses also due in 2027 and 2028, rural Spain could be in for an astronomical tourism windfall.

A report commissioned by travel platform Airbnb in May described the trio of eclipses as “an unprecedented opportunity to help rebalance tourist flows in Spain”.

In Burgos, a historic city expected to offer one of the best eclipse viewing spots, accommodation has been snapped up by visitors from the United States, South America, Japan and across Asia.

Vice Mayor Andrea Ballesteros hopes the event will leave visitors with more than just memorable photos.

“The hope is that foreign visitors take away a good impression of our city, and later that can have a ripple effect,” she said outside Burgos’ 13th-century cathedral.

She added that the eclipse would provide “a boost for tourism and culture” while helping attract visitors beyond the traditional summer season.

Hotels are already cashing in.

Lucia Molina, whose hotel is fully booked for August 12, said reservations began arriving up to 18 months ago.

“Practically all rooms have sold out for very high prices, not only here, but in all hotels in Burgos,” she said.

The few remaining rooms were fetching as much as €1,200 (RM6,000) a night.

A once-in-a-generation spectacle

Around 500,000 visitors are expected to descend on Castile and Leon for the eclipse, including about 40,000 in Burgos alone — more than one-fifth of the city’s population.

The influx has prompted concerns over traffic, crowd control, health and safety, with thousands expected to spend hours outdoors waiting for the Moon to pass in front of the Sun.

Officials have spent months preparing observation areas and coordinating with emergency services to keep crowds safe.

Optician Marta Serrano also has one important reminder: don’t forget the eclipse glasses.

“This is like going to the beach on a cloudy day. You say, ‘Today I won’t put on cream because I won’t burn.’

“Then at night you realise that you did because the rays keep getting through. This will be the same,” she said, warning of the danger to eyesight.

Demand for certified eclipse glasses has surged as excitement builds.

Back in Belorado, Bordallo is counting down to the moment his quiet corner of Spain becomes the centre of the universe — at least for a minute and a half.

“It’s a unique event, it’s a wonder, it’s a free show within anyone’s reach. And it will astonish them and delight them,” he said. — AFP