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5/20/2010
Strong Increase in Memorial Day Holiday Travel Expected, AAA Forecasts
Better economic indicators and pent up demand drive Americans to travel
AAA projects the number of Americans traveling 50 miles or more from home this Memorial Day holiday weekend will increase 5.4 percent from 2009 levels with approximately 32.1 million travelers taking a trip away from home. Last year, 30.5 million Americans traveled during the same period.
Trips by automobile are expected to increase 5.8 percent with 28.0 million people reaching their destination by car. Air travel is expected to be up slightly with an increase of 2.4 percent or 2.15 million holiday flyers expected. Trips by other modes, including rail, buses and watercraft, will be the means of travel used by an estimated 3 million Americans. The average distance traveled by Americans this Memorial Day holiday weekend is forecast to be approximately the same as one year ago; 626 miles vs. 620 miles in 2009.
This is the first increase in Memorial Day travel since 2005 and, while it's quite significant, itís still lower than pre-recession travel numbers. Factors contributing to the increase in travel this Memorial Day holiday weekend include a rise in consumer sentiment, improved economic well being for many Americans, pent up demand for travel, and the holiday falling late in the month.
Local travel stronger than national trend
Compared to last Memorial Day, the number of travelers originating from the Pacific Region (WA, OR, CA, AK, HI) is expected to increase 7.8 percent with 5.13 million people traveling. The Pacific Region travel forecast, along with most other regions of the United States, is much higher than the national forecast because it does not include those traveling from the Gulf states, an area where travel is expected to be flat because of the oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.
In the Pacific Region, the number of people traveling by automobile will increase 8.3 percent to 4.31 million travelers, and another 480,000 travelers will go by airplane, an increase of 5 percent.
AAA Washington's auto travel counselors and travel agents report that the most popular destinations for local members this Memorial Day weekend are national parks, the Oregon Coast and Southern California via automobile, and Southern California and Las Vegas via airplane.
Local gas prices
The average for self-serve regular unleaded gasoline in Washington is $3.08 per gallon, this is an increase of 54 cents compared to one year ago. In Idaho, the average is $3.10 per gallon, up 84 cents from last year. The national average sits at $2.85 per gallon, this is an increase of 54 cents from one year ago.
Airfares unchanged, hotel and car rental rates down
According to AAAís Leisure Travel Index, air fares over the Memorial Day holiday weekend are expected to remain unchanged from last year as air passengers will pay a lowest average fare of $176 per ticket. Weekend daily car rental rates will drop 15 percent from an average of $43.30 in 2009 to $36.65 in 2010. Hotel rates for AAA Three Diamond lodgings are expected to be remain a bargain, but will decline only one percent from one year ago with travelers spending an average of $141.60 per night compared to 142.45 last year. Travelers planning to stay at AAA Two Diamond hotels will pay four percent less at an average cost of $99 per night.
For more information download a copy of the entire Memorial Day forecast.
AAA's projections are based on economic forecasting and research by IHS Global Insight. The Boston-based economic research and consulting firm teamed with AAA in 2009 to jointly analyze travel trends during the major holidays. AAA has been reporting on holiday travel trends for more than two decades.
AAA Washington has been serving members and the traveling public since 1904. The organization provides a variety of exclusive benefits, including roadside assistance, discounts, maps and personalized trip planning, to its 980,000 members. In addition, its full-service travel and insurance agencies provide products and services for members and the public. Additional information is available through the company’s 26 offices in Washington and northern Idaho, at www.AAA.com, or by calling 1-800-562-2582.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Contact AAA
Jennifer Cook (425) 646-2055
Dave Overstreet (425) 467-7740
Cassie Devaney (509) 358-6950
