AURORA, Ill., November 18, 2009 – AAA projected 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 Illinois, just over 2 million people will be traveling this holiday weekend; an increase of 4 percent from 2008. In Indiana, there will be 818,000 total travelers this year; an increase of 3 percent over Thanksgiving weekend 2008.
The number of 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. 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 per gallon higher than 2008. In Illinois and Indiana, gas prices are averaging $2.69 and $2.52 respectively, nearly $.60 higher than last year’s prices.
Last year, Thanksgiving travel dropped a precipitous 25.2 percent in the wake of the ongoing housing and financial crisis. This year’s expected increase in travel reflects improved consumer confidence from one year ago, better financial market performance and a growing sense among many consumers that the worst of the global economic crisis is behind us, AAA said.
“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 Brad Roeber, AAA Chicago regional president.
Thanksgiving travelers expect to spend approximately $718 per household this upcoming holiday weekend. Thanksgiving travelers will journey an average of 815 miles roundtrip this upcoming holiday weekend.
According to AAA’s Leisure Travel Index - a monitor of pricing in 20 popular cities across the US for hotel and car rentals, as well as 40 pairs of cities for air travel pricing – the lowest average published airfares over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend are expected to decrease four percent and car rental rates are down three percent. Rates for AAA Three Diamond lodgings are expected to be 11 percent less than last year and travelers planning to stay at AAA Two Diamond lodgings will pay 13 percent less than last year.
AAA’s projections are based on research conducted by IHS Global Insight. AAA has been reporting on holiday travel trends for more than two decades. For purposes of this forecast the Thanksgiving holiday travel period is defined as trips that include travel of 50 miles or more away from home during the period from Wednesday, November 25 to Sunday, November 29. The complete AAA / IHS Global Insight 2009 Thanksgiving holiday forecast can be found at AAA.com/news.
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