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Madagascar |
CULTURE
Madagascar is set to welcome some 10,000 visitors
during the period around
21 June 2001.
This will be a major boost for the tourist industry
There’s going to be an eclipse of the sun on 21 June 2001 — a «first» for Southern Africa and Madagascar in this millennium. Four minutes of solar eclipse in a grandiose setting and with a cloudless sky! What an experience for those lucky enough to be on the scene! Like other countries involved, Madagascar intends to benefit from this windfall, to boost its tourist industry. During the last two years, tourism in Madagascar has suffered greatly because of the cholera epidemic and the cyclones which devastated the island.
For some months now, planes flying into Madagascar round about this date, have been fully booked. Tourist operators in Madagascar note that the first reservations were made in September 1999, soon after the eclipse in Europe. Most of those coming are not especially interested in Africa, but they are regular eclipse watchers and for this reason consider it worthwhile making the long trip just for three days. Don’t even consider looking for a flight to Madagascar between 18-25 June — no seats are available on the aircraft.
A national committee has been set up in order to coordinate all activities relating to the eclipse which takes place in each country once every 370 years! Initially, the committee had announced that nearly 20,000 visitors were expected. But, it quickly had to revise its expectations, simply because there’s no way so many visitors can be accomodated. Moreover, Air Madagascar refused to increase the number of its flights. The airline said that while flights from Paris-Tana before the eclipse will be full, the plane will be empty for the return journey to Paris. And vice versa after the event. Places on flights are only available during the eclipse period, for those willing to pay for a fifteen days’ minimum stay in the country. Needless to say, visitors will have every opportunity of enjoying our magnificent countryside.
Hoteliers are wondering how they’re going to accommodate everyone. They’ve received so many requests for rooms that they’re hard pressed all demands. In fact, hoteliers have only confirmed the reservations of those who have made a 50% advance payment on their bill. Tourist agencies are furious about this way of doing business.
The national committee has based its final calculation about the number of visitors expected, on the number of places available during the week of 21 June, i.e. nearly 8,000. Various economic and cultural attractions are envisaged during this much awaited week.
Dangers to be envisaged
Local authorities are very afraid that people will not take essential precautions while viewing the eclipse. If special glasses are not used, then total and irreversible blindness will result. Because most Malagasy people, (more than 80%), live in rural areas, they won’t always know about government warnings.
The Malagasy government has decided to spend FF 34 million to obtain special glasses for viewing the solar eclipse. The authorities are adamant: Every citizen (and there’s nearly 15 million of us), must have a pair of special glasses. All children in school, members of the armed forces, teachers, medical personnel will receive the glasses free. The special glasses will be available for the general population at a cost of FF 2.5 per pair. A major problem will be ensuring that people in rural areas receive all the necessary information and can get the special glasses.
The eclipse
Areas covered by the eclipse include much of eastern South America; the south of the Atlantic Ocean; three quarters of southern Africa, as well as the western part of the Indian Ocean. When the eclipse is total, its maximum width will be 200 km, and the longest duration of the total phase is 4 minutes 56.6 seconds.
Where can you see the total eclipse? Across much of Uruguay; then it crosses the Atlantic Ocean travelling to the Angolan coastline. It then goes right across Angola to the southern part of Zambia. The «ribbon of darkness» will cover the border between Zimbabwe and Mozambique, and then cross Mozambique, skimming the southern point of Malawi.
Once it’s crossed the Mozambique Channel, the total eclipse sweeps through southern Madagascar, following an axis Ambohilé-Vangaindrano, a coastal area where the «magic night» is only expected to last 2 minutes 28 seconds. At this point, the sun will only be 8 degrees above the horizon. The eclipse will end in the Indian Ocean, off Madagascar. In Madagascar, you can see the eclipse in the south, where it will be «total» in the Isalo Park area; and in the south-west towards Morombe and Andavadoaka.
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