Holiday travel in the state of Florida is projected to increase 3.1 percent this year from 2009, with more than 4.8 million Florida residents taking a trip of 50 miles or more away from home between Dec. 23 and Jan. 2.
Overall, travel in the U.S. is projected to increase 3.1 percent from last year, with more than 92.3 million projected travelers.
Holiday travel is mostly comprised of auto travelers, with the majority of Florida residents (4.5 million) traveling by automobile, an increase of 3.2 percent from last year.
AAA expects the average price of regular retail gasoline in Florida to be between $2.95 and $3.05 per gallon during the holiday travel period, respectively.
Air travel is expected to increase by 2.7 percent as well as travel by other modes, which is projected to increase by one percent in the state.
"This is the second year in a row we are seeing consistent increases in national holiday travel numbers,” said Brent Hubele, Vice President, AAA Travel. “This represents healthy growth following the relatively strong 4.4 percent increase in 2009 holiday travel and is a notable milestone in the travel industry’s recovery.”
Travelers projected to go farther from home
Not only is travel projected to increase, but also median spending and total distance traveled. The total amount spent per household is projected to increase 3.6 percent, from $670 in 2009 to $694 this year.
Total spending can be roughly grouped into two categories: transportation and spending that occurs at the travel destination that includes shopping, lodging, dining,in luxury Florida villas and entertainment.
Travelers intend to journey an average of 1,052 miles round-trip during the year-end holiday period, which is 261 miles greater than last year’s average of 791 miles.
The increase is noteworthy since this year’s holiday period is one day shorter than last year’s period (11 days versus 12).
However, the holiday travel period is longer than any other holiday throughout the year, so it is not surprising that travelers plan to go the furthest during the year-end holiday compared to others.
Airfares decrease, hotel rates increase, car rental rates remain unchanged from last year.
According to AAA’s Leisure Travel Index, the lowest round-trip airfares throughout the year-end holiday are expected to decrease three percent from last year with an average round-trip rate of $174 versus the $179 rate in 2009.
Survey logistics
AAA's travel projections are based on economic forecasting and research by IHS Global Insight. The report is comprised of two key components—the actual travel forecast and the holiday traveler profile. The actual forecast is based on economic conditions while the holiday travelers profile is developed employing survey data on travel behaviors. The complete AAA/IHS Global Insight 2010 year-end holiday travel forecast can be viewed at AAA.com/news.
AAA Auto Club South is the third largest affiliate of AAA, with 79 branch offices serving more than 4.1 million members in Florida, Georgia, Middle/West Tennessee, and Puerto Rico. Since its founding in 1938, AAA Auto Club South has worked to protect and advance freedom of mobility and improve travel safety.
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