Contact Information: Contact: Dan Ronan AAA Corporate Communications Manager Ronan.dan@aaa-texas.com danronan@sprint.blackberry.com 469 221 8217 work 469 583 7070 cell Sonta Henderson AAA Corporate Communications Henderson.sonta@aaa-texas.com 512 444 4757 ext 224
AAA Texas: Labor Day Travel Numbers Dip Slightly
| Source: AAA Texas
IRVING, TX--(Marketwire - August 25, 2008) - Texans can expect slightly smaller crowds on the
roads and at the airports as they did this time last year in the run-up to
Labor Day weekend, according to AAA Texas. About 2.55 million residents
statewide are expected to make end-of-summer getaways this weekend, down by
about 1.1% compared to 2007.
Of this weekend's travelers, more than 85 percent, or 2.1 million people
statewide, are expected to go by car to their holiday destinations. Another
211,000 travelers are expected to fly. The remainder are expected to use
other means such as bus or train.
"Millions of Texans still plan to travel over the holiday, but high gas
prices and a slower economy means more of them are taking trips closer to
home," said Auto Club spokesperson, Dan Ronan.
All regions of the country are expected to experience a slight downturn in
the number of Labor Day travelers in comparison to 2007. Nationally, Labor
Day travel is expected to inch down by nine-tenths of one percent compared
to 2007, with 34.4 million Americans expected to get away over the holiday.
Travelers can take some consolation that gasoline prices in most areas of
Texas are lower than they were at the beginning of the summer travel
season. However, prices are still about 85 cents higher that a year ago.
Families who want to estimate the fuel costs for their holiday trip can use
AAA's online tool, www.fuelcostcalculator.com.
AAA Texas, a member of the AAA federation of motor clubs, has been serving
Texans since 1902. Today, more than a million AAA Texas' members benefit by
the organization's roadside assistance service, travel agency, financial
products, automotive pricing, buying and financing, trip planning services,
and traffic safety programs. Information about these products and services
is available on AAA Texas' web site at www.AAA.com.