Fewer Americans traveling for Thanksgiving
Atlanta Business Chronicle - by Adam Kress Contributing Writer
Economic worries are causing people to cut down on travel for the Thanksgiving holiday.
The American Automobile Association said Tuesday about 41 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, a decline of 600,000 people, or 1.4 percent. That is the first drop in Thanksgiving travel since 2002, the group said.
“The overall state of the economy continues to present real challenges for some Americans looking to travel this Thanksgiving,” said AAA President Robert Darbelnet, in a prepared statement.
About 33 million Americans, or 81 percent of total travelers, are expected to drive during the holiday week this year, down 1.2 percent from last year. But those who do travel by car will see cheaper gas prices than last year. The nationwide average for unleaded gasoline is $2.068, according to AAA, compared to an average $3.095 a year ago.
The travel organization said about 4.54 million, or 11 percent of the total, plan to fly, a 7 percent decrease from last year. AAA said that 3.26 million Americans, or 8 percent, plan to travel by train, bus or other mode of transportation.
The AAA figures contradict a survey commissioned by discount travel site Hotwire.com and conducted by Harris Interactive, 39 percent of consumers will travel for turkey day -- the same percentage as last year.
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