1.9 Million Michiganians Have Spring Travel Plans, AAA Michigan Reports

DEARBORN, Mich., March 28 -- AAA Michigan projects 1.9 million Michiganians will travel this spring, despite the war in Iraq and terrorist threats at home. The Auto Club's survey of 400 randomly selected state residents -- conducted in mid March -- found 20 percent are planning to travel in the next 60 days. This spring, 43 percent of those with travel plans said they will go by air.

Among those planning a trip, 85 percent were planning a pleasure trip and 15 percent a business trip. The majority of residents said that neither the conflict in Iraq (86 percent) nor recent developments in the war on terrorism (81 percent) would affect their travel plans. Other key statistics:

  *  85 percent will go more than 100 miles from home.
  *  92 percent will stay in North America.
  *  49 percent will travel by car, truck or van.

* On average, Michigan residents will be gone 7-8 days and will spend $1,200.

"The Michigan projection for spring is encouraging," said Cathy Green, vice president Travel and Field Operations for AAA Michigan. "There is a high level of pent-up demand. As we get closer to Memorial Day, we should see stronger interest in travel."

Michigan travelers' Top 5 destinations this spring (based on 2003 AAA Travel Agency vacation bookings) are:

      Domestic              International
      1) Orlando            1) Cancun
      2) Las Vegas          2) Aruba
      3) Hawaii             3) Jamaica
      4) Chicago            4) Dominican Republic
      5) Arizona            5) Toronto

  NATION TAKES "WAIT AND SEE" APPROACH

Nationwide, AAA reports that uncertainty over the war in Iraq and continuing economic sluggishness are causing some travelers to postpone their spring travel plans. In the release of its first weekly AAA National Travel Barometer, AAA said its travel bookings for the week of March 17 were 76 percent of what they were a year ago. AAA believes travelers will resume making plans for summer travel as Memorial Day approaches.

Below is a summary of the AAA Travel Barometer's measurements for the week of March 17 compared to the same week in 2002.

* Overall AAA Travel Agency bookings -- cruises, tour packages, car rentals and hotels -- totaled 30,000 compared to 39,000 during the same week last year.

* Cruise bookings reached 72 percent (5,600) of bookings a year ago (7,800).

  *  Tour packages were 76 percent (8,700) in contrast to 2002 (11,500).
  *  Car rentals totaled 73 percent (3,800) as opposed to last year (5,200).

* Hotel reservations were at 78 percent (11,400) compared to 2002 (14,700).