Daily News - Economy and Gas Prices Forcing Travelers to Stay Close to Home (ContributorNetwork) Daily Business News
Summer vacations have long been a constant in the lives of Americans across the country. While many Americans intend on traveling this summer, a USA Today/Gallup Poll revealed that six in 10 Americans are planning to get away this year. Holding with those results a CareerBuilder.com survey revealed that 25 percent of Americans cannot afford a vacation and that 12% can afford to take one but will still stay at home.
Whether higher fuel prices or higher airline tickets are the culprit is anyone's guess, but those figures mean that close to forty percent of Americans (or the four out of ten from the USA Today Poll) are not planning on hitting the road this summer.
Even as the majority of Americans are planning a summer jaunt, more people will be carefully watching the bottom than usual. The search for great travel deals and enhanced value while on vacation has replaced simply jumping the car and heading to the local amusement park. The recent partnership between Groupon and Expedia can likely plan on receiving many sign ups from cash strapped consumers looking to score a great deal.
While gas prices have tapered off recently, the national average for a gallon of fuel is still about a dollar higher at this time this year than last year according to the AAA Fuel Gauge report. According to CNN.com, most people will stay close to home and within driving distance. Only about 20 percent of Americans plan to fly to domestic locations this year, which is a result of the combination of high ticket prices, fuel surcharges, and even baggage fees.
The entire travel industry is nervously awaiting summer travelers. The sputtering economic recovery is no doubt adding fuel to fears that higher prices might force customers to choose less expensive alternatives. Parks and historical landmarks with lower admission prices could see a bump in visitors as a result.
Hotels have even begun to offer free night stays, gas cards, and gift cards as a way to entice travelers to stay at their facilities. However, a popular way to save money when hitting the road is to choose a less expensive hotel or even stay with friends or family if possible. 2011 is shaping up to be an interesting year for the travel industry, and the particular outcome will likely not be known until the summer is over and the holiday season sets in.
Jason Gallagher is a former travel professional and long-time Pennsylvania resident. These experiences give him a first-hand look at developing situations in the state and everything included in the travel industry from technology to trends.
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