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Holiday Travel to Rise 1.5%, AAA Forecasts
HEATHROW, Fla. -- AAA expects 93.3 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home during the holidays, a 1.6% increase over a year ago. In the East North Central region, which includes Ohio, year-end holiday travelers are expected to total 14.8 million, an increase of 1.3% from last year.
This year’s expected travel volume is the second-highest in the past decade, officials said. AAA defines the year-end holiday travel season as Dec. 22 to Jan. 1. More than one in four Americans is expected to take a trip this season.
“Typically, Americans travel during the holidays regardless of economic conditions or gas prices,” said Jim Lehman, executive vice president, AAA East Central. “Year-end travel has steadily increased since 2008. The 11-day holiday provides travelers the opportunity to visit family and friends or squeeze in a year-end vacation.”
Approximately 83.6 million people (91% of holiday travelers) plan to take to the nation’s roadways this holiday travel season, a 2.1% increase compared to 2010-2011. Holiday air travel is expected to increase 4.5% to 5.6 million travelers from 5.4 million in 2011.
Approximately 3.3 million travelers will choose other modes of transportation, such as rail, bus and cruise ship.
For the East North Central region, which encompasses Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin, year-end holiday travelers should total 14.8 million, an increase of 1.3% over a year ago. Some 13.4 million will travel by automobile, up 1.1%, while 836,000 will fly to their destinations, up 4.3%.
AAA estimates the national average price of gasoline will slowly drop through the end of the year. The national average for a gallon of unleaded gasoline is $3.248. Gas prices dropped about 50 cents a gallon on average from September through early December but remain at record highs for this time of year.
According to AAA’s leisure travel index, year-end holiday hotel rates for AAA Three Diamond lodgings are expected to increase 2% from last year, travelers to spend an average of $129 per night compared to $126 last year. Travelers planning to stay at AAA Two Diamond hotels can expect to pay 3% more, at an average cost of $95 per night. Daily car rental rates will average $56 compared to $40 last year.
According to the survey of intended travelers, the average distance Americans travel during the holiday period is 760 miles, further than last year when they planned to log 726 miles. Median spending up nearly 6%. Top activities are dining and spending time with loved ones.
Median spending is expected to be $759, a 6% increase compared to the expected median spending of intended holiday travelers last year.
AAA bases its projections on economic forecasting and research by IHS Global Insight.
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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