From: Nigel.Allen@bbs.oit.unc.edu (Nigel Allen)
Subject: More travel expected as travellers foresee economic upturn
Organization: Echo Beach
Date: Thu, 10 Sep 1992 01:41:23 GMT

Here is a press release from the Travel Industry Association of America. 

 Outlook for Fall Travel Relates to Travelers' Optimistic View of
Nation's Economy
 To: National and Business Desks
 Contact: Dexter Koehl or Shawn Flaherty of the Travel Industry
          Association of America, 703-861-6356

   WASHINGTON, Sept. 9 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Twenty-four percent (or
36.4 million) of U.S. adult travelers plan to travel more during the
fall of 1992 than they did during the fall of 1991, according to the
Travel Industry Association's (TIA) Travelometer, a new, quarterly,
seasonal survey of what Americans think about the U.S. economy and
how it will relate to their travel plans.
   The majority (57 percent) of adult travelers intend to travel
about the same amount as they did last fall and 18 percent indicated
plans of traveling less than they did during the fall of 1991.
   The tendency to increase travel this fall is clearly related to a
more optimistic view of economic conditions for the fall.  When asked
about their own personal financial situation, 23 percent of all
travelers expect it to improve by November, as compared to only seven
percent who expect their situation to worsen.  Among those planning
to travel more this fall than they did last fall, 31 percent
anticipate that their personal financial positions will improve.
   The same relationship exists between those who plan to travel more
this fall and their expectations for national economic improvement.
Twenty-two percent of all travelers believe that the nation's economy
will be better by November; whereas, 28 percent of those planning to
increase their travel this fall hold the same belief.
   Looked at another way, travelers who believe that their personal
financial situation would improve by November, as well as those who
are optimistic about national economic conditions, are more likely to
increase their travel this fall (32 percent and 31 percent
respectively) than the economic pessimists.
   Travelometer participants were also asked how likely they are to
purchase a major item (e.g. house, car, household appliance,
furniture) during the fall of 1992.  Most respondents (69 percent)
now say that they are not very or not at all likely to do so.  Less
than one-third (31 percent) are very or somewhat likely to do so this
fall.
   Nearly 40 percent of travelers who believe that their personal
finances will improve by November 1992 indicated that they are very
or somewhat likely to purchase a major item during the fall compared
to only 18 percent of travelers who feel that their personal finances
will worsen during that same period.
   Florida tops the list of preferred destinations for fall pleasure
or vacation trips of nearly 57 million adults or 38 percent of the
149.1 million U.S. travelers.  Thirty-five percent of travelers or
52 million also cited California and 16 percent or 24 million
travelers cited Hawaii.
   In addition, travelers were asked about their most recent day
trips 100 miles or more away from home.  Among the 107.6 million
travelers who had taken one recently, visiting friends and relatives
was one of the major reasons given with 29 million travelers or
27 percent of travelers citing this purpose.  Twenty-two percent or
24 million traveled for business.
   TIA is the national, non-profit association representing all
components of the U.S. travel industry in the United States.   TIA's
mission is to promote travel to and within the United States.
 -30-

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