Record Holiday Travel Projected By AAA
15 November 2000
Record Holiday Travel Projected By AAA
ORLANDO, Fla.--Nov. 14, 2000--A record 38.9 million Americans plan a Thanksgiving holiday getaway of 100 miles or more from home, according to AAA.Thanksgiving travel is expected to be up 4 percent over the 37.4 million people who took a trip a year ago.
AAA estimates 31.6 million travelers will go by motor vehicle, a 5 percent rise from the 30.1 million who traveled last Thanksgiving. Another 7.3 million Americans will travel by airplane, train or bus, the same total as last year.
"We expect record volumes this Thanksgiving despite soaring fuel costs that will make travel more expensive for both motorists and air passengers," said AAA Travel Vice President Sandra Hughes.
The average cost of gasoline is up more than 25 cents a gallon from one year ago and airfares have risen an average of 13 percent since last Thanksgiving as ticket prices have been raised five times so far this year.
"Thanksgiving is a special time for most Americans and higher transportation costs are not going to discourage them from visiting family and friends or using the four-day holiday to take a vacation," Hughes said.
AAA's holiday travel projections are based on a national survey of 1,300 adults by the Travel Industry Association, which conducts special research for AAA.
The greatest number of Thanksgiving auto travelers will originate in the Southeast with 9.3 million, followed by the Midwest with 7.1 million; Great Lakes, 6.4 million; West, 6.1 million; and Northeast, 2.7 million.
Travelers plan on visiting the following destinations during the Thanksgiving holiday: town/rural areas, 40 percent; city, 34 percent; ocean/beach, 8 percent; mountain area, 6 percent; lake area, 5 percent; state/national park, 2 percent; theme/amusement park, 1 percent; and other or don't know, 4 percent.
A total of 59 percent intend to stay overnight with relatives or friends while 24 percent expect to stay in a hotel or motel. Other overnight plans include: cabin/condo, 6 percent; camper/trailer/RV or tent, 3 percent; boat/ship, 1 percent; and resort, 1 percent. Six percent are undecided or don't expect to stay overnight.
As North America's largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides its 43 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers.
Projected Number of Thanksgiving, 2000 Travelers
By Automobile/Truck/RV
By Census Region of Residence(a)
Population Percent Number of Auto Travelers
(Millions) Traveling (Millions)
by Auto
Total US 275.0 11.5% 31.6
Northeast 52.0 5.2% 2.7
Southeast 67.0 13.9% 9.3
Great Lakes 44.7 14.3% 6.4
Midwest 49.7 14.3% 7.1
West 62.1 9.8% 6.1
(a)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; AAA
