Fall travel surveys show a marked disconnect between the Labor Day holiday weekend and the rest of the fall travel season’s numbers. Compared to last year, anticipated Labor Day figures are down while expected fall travel is much more upbeat.

Klamath Lake - Fall travel

According to the AAA, 31.5 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home during the Labor Day holiday weekend. This is a 2.4 percent decrease from 2010, and that’s without factoring in the impact of Hurricane Irene.

Travel providers in the Northeast are reporting significant cancellations for Labor Day from those affected and still dealing with flooding and cleanups in Irene’s wake.

According to a TripAdvisor survey published before Irene hit the East Coast, 28 percent of travelers intend to travel for Labor Day weekend this year, same as last year.

Sixty percent of those traveling expect to drive, and 34 percent plan to fly. Twenty-six percent will take outdoor trips, 24 percent will take city escapes and another 24 percent will take beach trips.

“AAA is projecting a decrease in the number of Labor Day travelers as some Americans react to recent economic uncertainty and increasing air fares,” said Glen MacDonell, director, AAA Travel Services. “While automobile travel is expected to increase slightly, if recent declines in gasoline prices continue through Labor Day, we could see an increase in last-minute holiday weekend travel.”

The fall travel numbers are a lot more optimistic. According to the annual Travel Leaders fall travel trends survey, 55.3 percent of its 443 agents responded that fall bookings are higher compared to last year’s.

When asked for a personal outlook on business for the remainder of 2011, an overwhelming 71.1 percent of respondents say that they were optimistic, while 20.5 percent are neutral about it.

Roger E. Block, president of Travel Leaders Franchise Group, said, “We are encouraged that Americans—whether for business or leisure—are continuing to travel, and more frequently than a year ago despite the uncertainty we’ve seen recently in our country’s economic indicators.”

The TripAdvisor survey similarly shows a lot of pent-up optimism for fall travel, with 86 percent of travelers planning leisure trips this fall, compared to 74 percent that say they traveled for fun last autumn.

Thirty-seven percent of travelers in the TripAdvisor survey say they intend to spend more than they did last fall on leisure trips, while 46 percent plan to spend about the same amount. Nearly half (48 percent) feel the fall is the most economical season to travel.

The top fall destinations in the TripAdvisor survey are New York City, Las Vegas, Orlando, Chicago and San Francisco. Travel Leaders agents indicate their most booked fall destinations are Las Vegas, Orlando, Honolulu, New York City and Kahului (Maui), Hawaii.

Photo – Walter Siegmund

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The deadline for filing 2010 U.S. taxes may have been pushed back a few days, but the really good news regarding this year’s “tax day” is for the travel industry.

Caladesi Island State Park, Clearwater Beach, Florida

According to a recent survey from the large travel agency Travel Leaders, a majority of people receiving a refund (57.4 percent) say that they plan to use at least part of that money for leisure travel in 2011. In addition, 83 percent of respondents indicate that they will spend the same or more on leisure travel this year than last.

Where would Americans most like to visit? Florida leads the list for a second year in the domestic category, while Australia is the top international dream destination, as it was in 2009, the first year Travel Leaders conducted the annual survey.

“What is most encouraging from our latest survey is that an overwhelming majority (89 percent) indicated that they have already traveled or will be traveling for leisure this year, and it seems they are prepared to open their wallets a little more, if they need to,” said Roger E. Block, president of Travel Leaders Franchise Group.

Additional key findings:

• Nearly 62 percent of respondents have already taken at least one trip in 2011; 22 percent have taken multiple vacation trips this year.
• Nearly 87 percent indicate that they will take the same or more trips this year.
• After Florida, California and New York are the most desired domestic destinations. Last year Wisconsin nudged out New York, which could indicate that not only are people willing to spend more, but they’re also willing travel farther for vacations this year.
• Internationally, following Australia, respondents dream of visiting Italy, Greece, Tahiti and Germany.

The statistics below are for the question, “For your leisure trip(s) did you or will you….” Participants could choose all that apply:

• Travel within the U.S. and further than a bordering state: 75.6 percent
• Travel within your home state: 51.8 percent
• Travel to a bordering state: 48 percent
• Travel internationally (Canada, Mexico and/or the Caribbean): 41.1 percent
• Travel internationally (other than Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean): 30.8 percent

Carlson Wagonlit Travel Associates, TraveLeaders and Tzell Travel Group merged in 2008 to form the Minneapolis–based Travel Leaders. The survey was conducted March 10 to April 10, 2011, and includes responses from 953 consumers throughout the United States.

Photo credit: St. Petersburg/Clearwater Area CVB

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