WASHINGTON -- Leisure travel this summer should be up 2.5% over
last summer, as consumers take an estimated 275.4 million trips of
50 miles or more from home during June, July and August, according
the Travel Industry Association/AAA Summer Travel forecast.
The forecast attributed the projected increase to several
factors, including the end of the war in Iraq, positive economic
news, growing consumer confidence, and a drop in gasoline
prices.
All of which have contributed to a "decidedly more positive"
outlook for the summer travel season, said Dr. Suzanne Cook, TIA's
senior vice president of research and technology at a press
conference here, held jointly with AAA.
Should those factors remain relatively unchanged in the coming
weeks and months, Cook said, it is possible that more consumers
will hit the road this summer.
"We expect growth to gain momentum as the summer progresses,"
Cook said.
Sandra Hughes, AAA's vice president, said lower gas prices may
spur more consumers to travel.
"The national average prices for regular unleaded hit a record
$1.72 a gallon in mid-March," Hughes said. "Today, the national
average is $1.50. Certainly the price of gasoline will have an
impact on the Memorial Day period since 84% of travel this holiday
should be by motor vehicle."
AAA is projecting that some 35 million people will travel over
the Memorial Day weekend, which "equals the highest volume of
travel in at least 10 years," Hughes said.