Travelers Spend Less on Long Weekend
September 5, 2009 by Mark Ellis
Filed under Business
According to the American Automobile Association, Labor Day weekend will see less people travelling out of their hometown overall, and those who do are more likely to drive to a destination closer to home than usual. Despite the fact that gas prices are $1 less expensive than where they were last year, the number of driving travelers is down 13 percent.
With unemployment reaching record levels and wages down across the board, those who travel are more likely to spend much less money than they would in prime economic conditions for obvious reasons. Souvenir and gift shops will suffer, as will luxury dining and accommodation options as travelers opt for cheaper alternatives.
Over the past year, Americans have driven 4 percent less miles, the largest decline in this particular statistic in the last thirty years. Airfare has dropped an average of 15 to 20 percent and hotel rates have fallen 13 percent, meaning that if you have squirreled away some vacation money, now would be the ideal time to spend it.















