Labor Day Travel Expected To Post 3 Percent Gain, Says AAA
19 August 1997
Labor Day Travel Expected To Post 3 Percent Gain, Says AAA
ORLANDO, Fla., Aug. 19 -- Look out highways and airports --
Labor Day travelers are headed your way in record numbers as an estimated 34
million Americans expect to take a trip of 100 miles or more during the
upcoming holiday, says AAA.
"Fueled by our nation's strong economy and still considered summer's last
hurrah, this year's Labor Day holiday is a fitting end to a banner summer
travel season," said Graeme Clarke, senior vice president, AAA Products &
Services.
This year's holiday travel volume is up 3 percent compared to last year's
32.9 million Americans that traveled 100 miles or more from home.
An estimated 30.7 million people will travel by automobile, light truck or
recreational vehicle, a 3 percent increase from last year's 29.8 million Labor
Day travelers.
Holiday travel by air, bus, rail or ship will reach 3.3 million -- a
6 percent jump compared to 1996. Air travel accounts for more than 90 percent
of that volume.
The greatest number of auto travelers will originate in the West, with
7 million, followed by the Southeast, with 6.6 million; Northeast, 6.0
million; Midwest, 5.6 million; and Great Lakes, 5.5 million.
Cities and beaches will be the most popular holiday destinations,
accounting for 27 percent and 22 percent of the travel volume, respectively.
Other destinations include: town/rural area, 18 percent; lakes, 14 percent;
mountain area, 12 percent; state or national park, 4 percent; and
theme/amusement park, 2 percent. One percent is undecided.
Of those spending at least one night at their destination, 39 percent will
stay at a hotel or motel and 28 percent will stay with friends or family.
Other overnight plans include: camper/trailer/RV/tent, 11 percent; cabin or
condo, 11 percent; boat/ship, 2 percent; bed & breakfast, 1 percent; and
other, 3 percent. Five percent are undecided or aren't staying overnight.
AAA's holiday travel projections are based on a national travel survey of
1,500 adults by the Travel Industry Association, which conducts special
research for the association.
PROJECTED NUMBER OF LABOR DAY, 1997 TRAVELERS
BY AUTO/TRUCK/RV
BY CENSUS REGION OF RESIDENCE*
POPULATION PERCENT # TRAVELERS
(MILLIONS) TRAVELING (MILLIONS)
TOTAL U.S. 265.3 11% 30.7
NORTHEAST 51.6 11% 6.0
SOUTHEAST 63.8 10% 6.6
GREAT LAKES 43.6 12% 5.5
MIDWEST 47.8 11% 5.6
WEST 58.5 11% 7.0
*NORTHEAST: New England: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire,
Rhode Island, Vermont; Middle Atlantic: New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania;
SOUTHEAST: South Atlantic: Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia,
Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia; East South
Central: Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee; GREAT LAKES: East
North Central: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin; MIDWEST: West
North Central: Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota,
South Dakota; West South Central: Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas;
WEST: Mountain: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico,
Wyoming, Utah; Pacific: Washington, Oregon, California.
SOURCE: Travel Industry Association of America, American Automobile
Association
SOURCE American Automobile Association
