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AAA expects increase in Thanksgiving travel
Published November 18, 2009 - BizTimes Daily
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AAA expects Thanksgiving travel to increase slightly this year, after U.S. travel for the holiday fell 25.2 percent last year just after the financial industry crisis hit.
AAA projects 38.4 million Americans will be traveling 50 miles or more away from home over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend; a 1.4 percent increase over last year when 37.8 million traveled.
In Wisconsin, 778,000 people will be traveling this holiday weekend, an increase of 3 percent from 2008, according to AAA.
“Although far too many Americans remain unemployed or under other financial stress, AAA’s projected increase in Thanksgiving travel from one year ago is another hopeful sign that economic conditions are stabilizing and improving in some areas. We can also be thankful the gradual recovery we have been seeing in the U.S. travel industry since the start of the summer is continuing,” said Tom Frymark, AAA Wisconsin regional president.
The number of Thanksgiving travelers by automobile is expected to be 33.2 million in 2009 compared to 32.5 million last year, an increase of 2.1 percent.
However the number of travelers by air is expected be 2.3 million compared to 2.5 million in 2008, a decline of 6.7 percent.
The number of those traveling by “other” means, including, trains, watercraft, buses and multiple-modes of transportation, is expected to be 2.9 million compared to 2.8 million last year, an increase of 1.2 percent, AAA said.
This Thanksgiving, travelers will be paying much more in gasoline than they did last year. The current nationwide average price of self-serve, regular gasoline is $2.63, over 50 cents per gallon higher than 2008. In Wisconsin, gas prices currently average $2.61, nearly 55 cents higher than last year’s prices.
AAA’s travel projections are based on research conducted by IHS Global Insight.
