Travel by Americans this Winter Expected to Grow 2% Over Last Winter
WASHINGTON, DC, December 15, 2005. Travel by Americans this winter (December, January, and February) is expected to grow 2 percent over last winter according to the latest seasonal forecast by the Travel Industry Association of America (TIA). Americans are expected to take a record 251 million trips* during the winter months.
"This is reasonable growth for winter travel," TIA President and CEO Roger Dow said after looking at the forecast. "Following the very soft fall travel season, we began to see signs of an economic recovery which translated into higher consumer confidence and spending. Judging by this forecast, it's apparent that travelers are far more confident about taking a winter trip."
During the current winter quarter leisure travel growth (2.4 percent) will outpace growth in business and convention travel (1 percent). Although the growth in winter business travel is modest, it continues the recovery that began in 2004.
Trips are defined as a person-trip--one person traveling 50 miles or more from home, one way or an overnight trip away from home staying in paid accommodations.
NOTE: The results of TIA's Winter 2005-2006 forecast are based on TIA's seasonal travel forecasting model developed in partnership with Global Insight, Inc.
TIA is the national, non-profit organization representing all components of the $600 billion travel industry. TIA's mission is to represent the whole of the U.S. travel industry to promote and facilitate increased travel to and within the United States.
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