AAA Projects a Slight
Decrease in Memorial Day Holiday Travel
Record fuel prices and tough economic times alter travel plans for some
Americans
WASHINGTON, May 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AAA projects the number of Americans
traveling during the Memorial Day holiday will drop slightly compared to the
previous year. AAA estimates that 37.87 million Americans will travel 50 miles
or more from home this holiday, a decrease of nearly 360,000 travelers (0.9
percent) from last year's total of 38.23 million.
Nearly 31.7 million Americans (83 percent of all holiday travelers) expect
to travel by automobile, a one percent decrease from the approximately 32
million people who drove a year ago.
Almost 4.35 million (11 percent of holiday travelers) plan to travel via
airplane; a decrease of 0.5 percent from the 4.37 million who took to the skies
last year. About 1.8 million intend to travel by train, bus or other mode of
transportation.
"Many Americans are feeling a financial pinch this holiday weekend from
record high gasoline prices and other factors," said AAA President and CEO
Robert L. Darbelnet. "Despite the small decrease, we will still see a
significant number of people traveling this weekend. More than 12 percent of
the U.S. population will be celebrating the Memorial Day weekend away from
home."
Across much of the country, motorists driving to their Memorial Day holiday
destinations will once again encounter record-high gasoline prices. The
national average for self-serve regular is $3.78 a gallon. That is 39 cents
more than one month ago and 68 cents more than this time last year.
"Countless businesses large and small across the United States depend
on the summer leisure traveler for a large portion of their annual revenue.
This spring high gasoline prices appear to be dampening our society's intent to
travel. If a trend toward higher gas prices and fewer travelers were to
continue, it would eventually harm travel-dependent companies that provide
employment opportunities and tax revenues in almost every city and town in
America," Darbelnet said.
According to AAA's Leisure Travel Index, air fares over the Memorial Day
holiday weekend are expected to rise eight percent over last year as air
passengers will pay an average $179. Car rental rates will climb significantly
higher with consumers paying an average of $45 per day compared to $31 a year
ago, an increase of 45 percent. Hotel rates for AAA 3 Diamond hotels are
expected to be seven percent less than last year with travelers spending an
average of $162 per night. However, travelers planning to stay at AAA 2 Diamond
hotels will pay an average of $112 per night, nine percent more than a year
ago.
The greatest number of automobile travelers this Memorial Day holiday weekend
will originate in the West with 7.6 million travelers, followed by the
Southeast with 6.8 million; Midwest, 6.7 million; Northeast, 5.8 million; and
Great Lakes, 4.8 million.
The West is expected to produce the largest number of air travelers with 1.37
million, followed by the Midwest with 1.18 million; Southeast, 870,000;
Northeast, 545,000; and Great Lakes, 384,000.
The AAA Fuel Gauge Report Web site (www.aaafuelgaugereport.com) lists
average daily prices for the nation, all 50 states and more than 250 localities
for all grades of gasoline.
Research for Memorial Day weekend holiday travel projections are derived
from Travel Industry Association (TIA)'s Holiday Travel Forecast Model. The
model was developed based on consumer travel intentions and TIA's quarterly
travel forecast data. The travel intentions data are collected through an
online survey of over 2,000 U.S. adults nationwide, supplemented by an
additional 6,500 Americans surveyed from the top 10 states of travel origin in
the United States. Historical travel volume and other economic data such as
GDP, disposable income, employment and travel costs such as fuel price are also
incorporated into the model. Analysis of the data and the forecasts are
produced by the Travel Industry Association, which conducts special research
for AAA.
As North America's largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA
provides more than 51 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related
services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA
has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers.
AAA clubs can be visited on the Internet at www.AAA.com.
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Source: AAA
CONTACT: Mike Pina, +1-202-942-2079, mpina@national.aaa.com,
or Troy
Green, +1-202- 942-2082, tgreen@national.aaa.com,
both of AAA
Web Site: http://www.aaa.com/
http://www.aaafuelgaugereport.com/
AAA Projects a Slight Decrease in Memorial Day Holiday Travel
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