Research Shows Americans’ Travel Intentions, Spending Expectations Same or Better than Last Year.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Americans are expected to take 322 million domestic leisure person-trips during June, July and August 2009, according to the annual summer travel forecast by the U.S. Travel Association. Although a decline of 2.2 percent from summer 2008, leisure travel remains resilient in the current economic climate. Consumers are expected to take an average of two trips this summer, stay approximately seven nights away from home and spend more than $900 on their longest summer trip.
“Travelers’ resilience is good news for the travel industry and the entire American economy,” said Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association. “According to our forecast, Americans will do their part this summer to stimulate the economy, save and create jobs and strengthen communities from coast-to-coast.”
The April 2009 travelhorizons survey by the U.S. travelassociationTM and Ypartnership, a critical component of the summer travel forecast, shows that an estimated 54 percent of American households are planning to take at least one leisure trip this summer, compared to 50 percent at the same time last year. While Americans are still watching their travel budgets and other discretionary spending, more than half (51 percent) of these leisure travel planners expect to spend the same amount on their summer vacations this year.
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