Ark. tourism leaders already prepping for 2024 solar eclipse - KSLA

TEXARKANA, Ark. (KSLA) – Although still two years away, tourism leaders in Arkansas have begun preparing for what they believe will be the largest influx of tourists in the state’s history.

In April of 2024, Arkansas and Texas will be able to see a total solar eclipse. Kim Williams with the Arkansas Eclipse Project met with a group of Texarkana leaders Friday, April 1 to encourage businesses and citizens to prepare for an event she says will bring hundreds of thousands of visitors to the Natural State. The last total solar eclipse was in 2017, and Williams says it proved to be a great economic boost for cities and states in the direct path.

“We anticipate visitation unlike anything Arkansas has seen before. I will say that because with Arkansas, two-thirds of the state is within that path of totality,” Williams said.

The eclipse is projected to occur Monday, April 8, 2024, and will be visible to the State of Arkansas for about three hours.

Click here to see a map of the path of the eclipse.