Americans to stay home for Memorial Day

According to estimates released by the American Automobile Association (AAA), many Americans may chose to stay home this year rather than travel over the Memorial Day weekend.

For perhaps the first time in a decade, the number of travelling Americans on the long weekend will likely decline, probably due in a large part to tightening economic conditions and soaring gas prices.

According to the travel group, an estimated 37.9 million Americans are likely to travel at least 50 miles on the Memorial Day weekend. While the number is significant, it represents a 0.9 per cent drop from travel during the same period last year.

The number of Americans getting into a car for Memorial Day weekend will probably drop by one per cent this year, with just 31 million people hitting the roads. An estimated 4 million will be catching flights, 0.5 per cent less people than last year.

Although high gas prices may keep some people at home, it is making other Americans more interested than ever before in the cheap vacation destinations like Galveston and Lake Conroe.

Public relations manager for the Galveston Island Convention & Visitors Bureau, Roshelle Gaskins, said: “As far as Galveston goes, we usually benefit when people are economically challenged. It is the close-to-home getaway to go to.”

Over the last few years, the number of beach rentals have been increasing in the Galveston area, according to Claire Reiswerg, the owner of a property rental company in the area. Reiswerg said that rentals are up by 11 per cent this year compared with last year.

Many Americans who can no longer afford to go abroad are looking to drive to nearby beach spots and camping locations this summer.

www.aaa.com