TAMPA - With a cautious eye on economic recovery more Americans intend to travel this year for Thanksgiving than last year.
AAA is projecting that 38.4 million Americans will travel a distance of 50 miles or more away from home over the Thanksgiving weekend, a 1.4 percent increase over last year when 37.8 million traveled for the holiday.
“We take the projected increase in travelers as a sign that economic recovery may finally be taking root and we believe many Americans certainly share the same hope,” said Kevin Bakewell, senior vice president, AAA Auto Club South.
Overall the numbers show an even greater number of folks who plan on driving (86 percent of all travelers) which reflects growing public dissatisfaction with air travel. Fewer flights, higher costs for airfares, frequent delays and increased fees have a record number of Americans opting for other means of travel, AAA said.
This year only 6 percent of travelers say they will travel by air and that exemplifies a 10-year trend in which air travel as part of total Thanksgiving travel has declined substantially.
Since 2000, the number of air travelers during Thanksgiving weekend has dropped by 62 percent. For those planning to fly, additional airline information and updates may be found at www.AAA.com/airfares.
Florida and Georgia are projected to show a 3 percent increase in overall travel versus 2008 but in Tennessee an 8 percent decrease is anticipated and that is reportedly due to high unemployment in Tennessee.
In Florida, almost 1.8 million are expected to travel by auto with only 140,000 to travel by air.
With so many motorists expected on the roadways, Bakewell recommends that everyone avoid driver distractions such as cell phones and texting, and also avoid “driver fatigue” and not attempt a long drive home at night, especially if there’s any drowsiness after enjoying a hearty Thanksgiving dinner.
“On Thanksgiving Day we’re all especially susceptible to ‘carb-overload’ and when you couple that with the tryptophan that is present in turkey and other meats, and perhaps an alcoholic beverage, many of us are ready for a nap,” he said.
He noted that tryptophan can contribute to a feeling of drowsiness and motorists must be aware of that and avoid driving if they feel tired.
“It’s much better to stay put rather than place yourself and others at risk,” he said. “A fresh start in the morning after you’ve rested makes a world of difference.”
AAA’s holiday travel projections are based on research conducted by IHS Global Insight and D.K. Shifflet & Associates which conducted a national survey of 1,350 U.S. adults. The complete AAA/HIS Global Insight 2009 Thanksgiving holiday forecast can be found at www.AAA.com/news.
AAA Auto Club South is the fourth largest affiliate within the AAA federation with 79 branches serving over 4.1 million members in Florida, Georgia, West and Middle Tennessee and Puerto Rico. It is the largest travel agency in the Southeast, and one of the top ten leisure travel agencies in the nation.
