Solar eclipse drives hotel bookings in New Zealand

New Zealand's Dunedin is experiencing unprecedented hotel bookings two years in advance of a historic total solar eclipse scheduled for July 22, 2028—the region's first in over 850 years. During the event, a 100km-wide path of totality will sweep across southern New Zealand from Queenstown to Dunedin, plunging the area into darkness for nearly 3 minutes. This rare astronomical occurrence is generating massive tourism demand as people worldwide plan to witness this spectacular natural event.