Lower Fuel Costs and Good Travel Deals Will Encourage

More Oklahomans to Travel over Memorial Day, AAA says

NEWS from AAA Oklahoma, May 12 – Thanks to lower gasoline prices and an abundance of travel bargains, 6.1 percent more Oklahomans are expected to travel over the upcoming Memorial Day holiday weekend compared to Memorial Day 2008, according to AAA Oklahoma. The auto club says this year, 552,800 Oklahomans will travel 50 or more miles from home over the holiday, 86 percent of them by motor vehicle.

“Oklahoma’s highways will be busy places over the long Memorial Day weekend with seven percent more traffic expected this year compared to last year,” said Chuck Mai, spokesman for AAA Oklahoma. “The number of Oklahomans who will be flying to their destination this year is due to increase 1.3 percent, to 79,000 people.” 

AAA predicts a 1.5 percent increase in Memorial Day travel nationwide this year with approximately 32.4 million travelers taking to the road, the air or the rails. Last year, 31.9 million Americans traveled during the same period; a dramatic decline from the 35.3 million travelers who vacationed in 2007. Eighty-three percent of all traveling Americans will get there by car or pickup, seven percent will fly and the rest will take a train, bus or boat.

In contrast to the nearly 2.6 percent increase in trips by personal automobile nationwide, trips by air will decline by 1 percent, AAA said.  

Gasoline pump prices this year are averaging about $1.50 less than one year ago, AAA says. According to the AAA Fuel Gauge Report (www.fuelgaugereport.com), today’s national average for self-serve regular is $2.248. Oklahoma’s average is $2.112, the fourth lowest among the 50 states.

“Last year, soaring gas prices and a deteriorating economy resulted in far fewer trips being taken than had been forecasted,” said Mai. “This year, sharply lower gasoline prices and plentiful travel bargains have us feeling better about taking a road trip, which in turn will help tourism-based economic activity throughout the nation. Approximately one in seven Americans is employed directly or indirectly by the hospitality and travel industry.”

The average distance traveled by Americans this Memorial Day holiday weekend is forecast to be approximately 620 miles. However, in Oklahoma and the west south central part of the U.S., the figure is projected to be 830 miles.

According to AAA’s Leisure Travel Index, air fares over the Memorial Day holiday weekend are expected to decrease four percent from last year as air passengers will pay an average $176. Car rental rates will drop lower with consumers paying an average of $43 per day compared to $45 a year ago, a decrease of three percent. Hotel rates for AAA Three Diamond-rated lodgings are expected to be 12 percent less than last year with travelers spending an average of $142 per night. Those planning to stay at AAA Two Diamond-rated hotels will pay an average of $104 per night, seven percent less than a year ago.

AAA’s projections are based on research conducted by IHS Global Insight. The Boston-based economic research and consulting firm teamed with AAA earlier this year as part of an agreement to jointly analyze travel trends during the major holidays. AAA has been issuing holiday travel forecasts for more than two decades. The complete AAA / IHS Global Insight 2009 Memorial Day holiday travel report can be found at AAA.com/news.

As North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 51 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA Oklahoma can be visited on the Internet at AAA.com.