More evidence of an upsurge in travel is
coming out of this years National Leisure Travel Monitor, which
reports that 58% of Americans took at least one overnight trip 75
miles away from home during the last 12 months, a nine-point gain
over last year and the highest level since 1999.
The survey,
prepared by Yesawich Pepperdine Brown & Russell/Yankelovich
Partners, reported that of those travelers, one-third took at least
one trip primarily for business and 93% took at least one trip
primarily for pleasure.
Traveling with
children is also on the rise, as the report notes that 37% of
overnight travelers took at lease one trip with children; 68% took
at least one trip with a spouse or other adult; and 26% went solo
on at least one pleasure trip during the last year.
The data also
confirm that the long weekend has become popular. Trips of four
nights or fewer (including a Saturday) account for 56% of all
vacations.
Researchers predict
that demand will continue to grow in the year ahead, despite
concerns about security or rising fuel costs, though concerns about
the falling dollar could have an impact on international travel,
the report said.
The Leisure Travel
Monitor, now in its 13th year, is based on an annual survey of
1,650 U.S. adults.
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Look for
additional details on this article in the April 18 issue of Travel
Weekly.