Auto Club Says Traveler Spending and Trip Reservations Increasing

    LOS ANGELES--Oct. 8, 2001--Seventy-five percent of Americans said they intend to spend about the same or more money on leisure travel in the next 12 months, according to national AAA survey data analyzed by the Automobile Club of Southern California.
    This result is comparable to a similar national AAA survey conducted in July 2001 and suggests that travelers may be resuming more normal travel and spending intentions in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
    Air, car, cruise, tour and train trips booked by Auto Club members, which dropped overall by nearly 50% immediately following the attacks, have increased steadily in subsequent weeks to within 7% of prior reservation levels. Overall, September 2001 reservations were only 19% below September 2000.
    While air reservations fell dramatically the day of the attacks, they also have steadily increased to within 14% of prior levels and within 15% of the same time last year.
    "These indicators tell us that travelers, while still cautious, are steadily returning to their normal travel planning," said Tim Irwin, vice president of travel products. "Some of this return may be fueled by a patriotic response to support the U.S. economy or bargain hunting, but it does bode well for the industry and the country."
    The national survey, conducted by Opinion Research Corp. between Sept. 28-Oct. 1, sampled the opinions of 490 U.S. adults who had taken a leisure trip in the past 12 months. The margin of error for the survey is plus or minus 4.4 percent.
    The Automobile Club of Southern California, the largest affiliate of the AAA, has been serving members since 1900. Today, the Auto Club's members benefit by roadside assistance, insurance products and services, travel agency, financial products, automotive pricing, buying and financing programs, automotive testing and analysis, trip planning services, highway and transportation safety programs.
    Information about these products and services is available on the Auto Club's Web site at www.aaa-calif.com.