AAA projects 93.3 million Americans (3.5 million Ohioans), will travel 50 miles or more from home during this year-end holiday period, Saturday, Dec. 22, 2012 to Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2013. That’s an increase of 1.6 percent (1.9 percent for Ohio) from last year.
The year-end holiday travel period is the most traveled holiday period, mainly because it’s typically the longest. This year, it spans 11 days and covers two weekends.
This travel period is also the least volatile of all travel holidays, as travelers do not typically let economic conditions or high gas prices dictate if they go home for the holidays. However, year-end holiday travel numbers did experience a decline when the recession hit, to 85.7 million travelers (3.3 million Ohioans) in 2008/2009.
Year-end travel numbers have gradually improved with the economy over the past few years. This year’s numbers will be the second highest in the past decade. Only 2006/2007 saw higher numbers with 93.7 million travelers nationally (3.7 million in Ohio).
Modes of Transportation:
Automobile Travel remains the number one form of transportation this holiday period due to its flexibility, convenience and relative affordability. AAA expects 84.4 million Americans (3.2 million Ohioans), to drive to their destination. This is an increase of 1.3 percent nationally (1.7 percent in Ohio).
Air Travel is expected to increase 4.5 percent (4.9 percent in Ohio), as 5.6 million Americans (196,000 Ohioans) take to the skies. Airfares are 3 percent lower than last year, according to AAA’s Leisure Travel Index.
Gas Prices and Travel Plans:
Gas prices are not expected to have a major impact on travel volume, as most plans have already been set and prices have fallen considerably since their summer peak.
When the year-end travel forecast was in the field, the national average gas price was between $3.42 and $3.46 a gallon ($3.36 and $3.56 in Ohio). AAA estimates the national average price of gasoline will slowly drop through the end of the year to an average between $3.20 and $3.40 by New Year’s Day.
Holiday Forecast Methodology:
AAA’s projections are based on economic forecasting and research by IHS Global Insight. The Boston-based economic research and consulting firm teamed up with AAA in 2009 to jointly analyze travel trends during the major holidays. AAA has been reporting on holiday travel trends for more than two decades. The complete AAA/IHS Global Insight 2012/2013 Year-end Holiday Travel Forecast can be found at NewsRoom.AAA.com.
As North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 53 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 clubs can be visited online at AAA.com.
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