FEATURE/AAA Projects 6 Percent Drop in Holiday Travel

    ORLANDO, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE FEATURES)--Dec. 11, 2001--This Christmas-New Year's holiday 53.7 million Americans plan to travel 50 miles or more from home, a 6 percent decline over last year's 57.1 million people, according to AAA.
    Approximately 42.2 million travelers expect to go by motor vehicle this holiday, a 1 percent drop from the 42.7 million who took a trip last year.
    Another 11.5 million will travel by airplane, train or bus, down 20 percent from the 14.4 million who traveled last Christmas.
    "The current recession and the nation's unemployment situation are the major contributors to the expected decline in holiday travel although continued concerns about air travel security by some Americans also are a factor," said AAA Travel Vice President Sandra Hughes.
    Spurred in part by gas prices that have fallen to their lowest level since March 1999, 79 percent of those traveling this holiday will go by auto compared to 75 percent one year ago.
    The Southeast is expected to have the greatest numbers of auto travelers, with 11.4 million. Other regions and their expected numbers of motorists include the West, 10.3 million; Midwest, 9 million; Great Lakes, 6.7 million; and Northeast, 4.8 million.
    According to AAA's survey, 40 percent of travelers plan to visit a town or rural area while another 34 percent expect to go to a city. Other popular destinations include: ocean/beach, 10 percent; mountains, 6 percent; state/national park, 3 percent; theme/amusement park, 2 percent; lake area, 1 percent; don't know or other, 4 percent.
    While 62 percent of travelers plan to stay with a friend or relative, another 23 percent will be staying at a hotel or motel. Other lodging plans include: cabin/condo, 4 percent; camper/trailer/RV/tent, 3 percent; boat/ship, 1 percent; bed and breakfast, 1 percent; no overnight stay or don't know, 6 percent.
    AAA's holiday travel projections are based on a national telephone survey of 1,300 adults conducted by the Travel Industry Association, which does special research for AAA.
    As North America's largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides its more than 44 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. AAA clubs can be visited on the Internet at http://www.aaa.com.