Auto Travel to Climb Nearly 3% in '98, AAA Says

6 October 1997
Auto Travel to Climb Nearly 3% in '98, AAA Says

    CLEVELAND, Oct. 6 -- Leisure auto travel is expected to reach
990 million person-trips in 1998, up nearly 3 percent from this year's 963
million person-trips of 100 miles or more from home, according to AAA.
    "AAA is bullish on the future of leisure auto travel," said Graeme Clarke,
senior vice president, AAA Products and Services, speaking at the Travel
Industry Association's annual Marketing Outlook Forum.
    "Considering that more than 50 percent of the visitors to such hot tourist
draws as Orlando, Fla., Branson, Mo., and Williamsburg, Va., arrive by car,
the leisure auto travel market presents enormous potential to many segments of
the travel industry," Clarke said.
    The nation's strong economy and unyielding consumer confidence continue to
fuel the increase in the leisure travel.  Also, destinations such as Myrtle
Beach, S.C., and Cleveland, Ohio, offer a myriad of choices to those people
looking for a long weekend getaway or a well-deserved vacation.
    "Places like Myrtle Beach -- one of AAA's most popular destinations by car
-- offer travelers choices with a capital C," said Clarke.  "From the nation's
oldest sculpture garden and the Carolina Opry, to a 60-mile stretch of sandy
shoreline and a haven for golf enthusiasts, more than 12 million people
enjoyed Myrtle Beach last year -- and not just during the summer travel
season."

    Travel trends to look for in the coming year:
    * Although travelers will experience rising costs in nearly every segment
of the industry -- air, lodging, meals to name a few -- leisure travel will
continue as a staple in the American diet.  In fact, according to TIA,
vacations rate very high among Americans, as most gave their last vacation an
overall grade of A-based on the fun factor, lack of hassles and level of
service.
    * The only safe prediction for 1998 gas prices is that they likely will be
unpredictable.  The oil and gasoline industries' move to reduce inventories
and production means there are lower oil and gasoline surpluses available to
shield retail prices from sometimes erratic future markets, fluctuating
production schedules, stronger demand and the often tenuous political climate
in the oil producing nations.
    * Retail shopping will continue to gain momentum as a major leisure
tourist activity.  New entries such as Ontario Mills in California's San
Bernardino County -- complete with more than 200 stores, a virtual-reality
arcade, a man-made wildlife preserve and two ice-skating rinks -- may top
Disneyland as the state's biggest attraction.
    * With 20 new cruise vessels coming on line between 1996 and 1999,
consumers may find attractive discounts to help fill these new mega-ships --
among them Disney's entry into the cruise market in March of next year with
the Disney Magic.
    AAA news releases can be downloaded from the following sites:
AOL -- Keyword:  AAA; Click on "News and Events," "News Releases."
 INTERNET -- http://www.aaa.com/news/news.html

SOURCE  American Automobile Association