LOS ANGELES, CA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- May 21, 2007 -- Gas prices may be keeping them closer to
home, but nearly 3.1 million Southern Californians are expected to take
trips this Memorial Day weekend -- a 1.6 percent increase compared to last
year, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California.
More than 80 percent of Southland travelers, or 2.57 million people, will
travel by car to their destinations this weekend, which is a 1.7 percent
increase over the number of car travelers in 2006. More than 455,000
Southern Californians are expected to fly to their holiday getaways, which
is 1.4 percent more than last year's number of air travelers.
Statewide, almost 5 million people are projected to make holiday weekend
getaways, which is a 1.6 percent increase over last year. California
travelers will include 4.1 million drivers and nearly 730,000 plane
passengers.
"For the second year in a row, we're seeing a fairly small rate of growth
in Memorial Day holiday travel, which could indicate that gas prices have
reached levels that are impacting people's decisions to take trips," said
Auto Club spokeswoman Carol Thorp. "Many of our members are booking holiday
trips that are just short drives away."
According to a survey of AAA Travel, the most popular destinations for
Southern California travelers this weekend will be:
1) San Diego
2) Las Vegas
3) Grand Canyon
4) Central Coast
5) San Francisco
California travelers will spend more on their Memorial Day getaways than
those in nearly every other area of the country, according to a national
holiday travel survey conducted on behalf of AAA. The average California
household will spend $821 on a Memorial Day getaway, while households
nationally will pay an average of $594. "That is consistent with our higher
average costs for hotels, meals, entertainment and gasoline compared to
other areas of the country," Thorp said.
The AAA survey also estimates that more than 70 percent of California's
Memorial Day travelers will be taking their trips with at least two other
members of their household.
Gas prices are averaging at least $3.30 a gallon in almost every region of
California. Families who want to estimate the fuel costs for their holiday
trip can use AAA's online tool,
www.fuelcostcalculator.com.
Contact Information: CONTACT:
Marie Montgomery
Jeffrey Spring
(714) 885-2333