Near-Record Numbers To Travel Over Labor Day Holiday, AAA Says
25 August 1999
Near-Record Numbers To Travel Over Labor Day Holiday, AAA Says ORLANDO, Fla., Aug. 25 -- An estimated 34.8 million Americans
are expected to travel 100 miles or more from home this Labor Day holiday --
the second highest total ever, according to AAA.
That figure represents an increase of nearly 2 percent over a year ago.
The record for Labor Day weekend is 34.9 million in 1997.
This year's near-record number of travelers comes despite an 18-cent
increase in gas prices over the same period last year. The AAA Fuel Gauge
Report shows the national average price for regular unleaded gasoline is
$1.255 per gallon.
Approximately 29.2 million will go by automobile, light truck or
recreational vehicle, up 1 percent from last year's 29 million motorists.
Holiday travel by air, bus, rail or ship is expected to reach 5.6 million, an
increase of nearly 6 percent compared to last Labor Day.
Most auto travelers will originate in the West, with 7.7 million, followed
by the Southeast with 6.8 million; Midwest, 5.6 million; Great Lakes, 4.6
million; and Northeast, 4.5 million.
A majority of travelers -- 23 percent -- plan to visit cities, with
another 20 percent going to towns or rural areas and 19 percent visiting
oceans or beaches.
Other popular destinations include mountains, 14 percent; lakes,
8 percent; state or national parks, 5 percent; theme or amusement parks,
2 percent; and other, 3 percent. Another 6 percent had not yet determined
their destination.
Of those spending at least one night at their destination, 47 percent plan
to stay at a hotel or motel while 25 percent will be staying with a friend or
relative.
Other overnight plans include: camper/trailer/RV/tent, 8 percent; cabin or
condo, 8 percent; bed and breakfast inn, 1 percent; boat/ship, 1 percent; and
other, 2 percent. Another 8 percent had not made overnight plans.
AAA's Labor Day travel projections are based on a national travel survey
of 1,500 adults by the Travel Industry Association, which conducts special
research for AAA.
AAA is a not-for-profit federation of 90 clubs with 1,100 offices
providing 42 million members in the United States and Canada with travel,
insurance, financial and auto-related services.
Projected Number of Labor Day, 1999 Travelers
By Automobile/Truck/RV
By Census Region of Residence
Population Percent Number
(Millions) Traveling of Auto
by Auto Travelers
(Millions)
Total United States 273.0 11% 29.2
Northeast 51.9 9% 4.5
Southeast 66.2 10% 6.8
Great Lakes 44.4 10% 4.6
Midwest 49.3 11% 5.6
West 61.2 13% 7.7
*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.
AAA news releases can be downloaded from http://www.aaa.com/news
