Rising gas prices are not having a serious impact on US summer travel, though visitors may be sticking a little closer to home these days, according to several recent reports.
“In general, the travel industry is in rosy times,” said Sandra Hughes, AAA Vice President of Travel Services.
Ms Hughes made the point that gas is only a small part of a family vacation. Some travellers are cutting back on other expenses to cope with the higher gas prices, she said.
Hotel companies are also reporting robust times.
“Demand has come back across all segments and it’s going to be a record year for Best Western — as was last year,” said Dorothy Dowling, Senior VP, marketing.
Some travel categories are particularly strong, including cruising and adventure travel — particularly soft adventure, according to various travel sources.
Aging Americans still like adventurous daytime activities but look for plush hotels at night, said Ms Dowling.
Many Americans are travelling to Europe but they’re often looking for more exotic destinations — say Budapest instead of Paris, reported Hotel Interactive.
“People want to do something unusual. And they’re looking to have experiences they can talk about at cocktail parties,” said Ms Hughes.
Even the ailing airlines are reporting some positive travel news.
Southwest, for example, has announced it will begin serving Washington’s Dulles International Airport with a dozen non-stop departures to Chicago, Las Vegas, Orlando and Tampa Bay.
The new flights will begin 6 October and cost as little as $79, one-way.
Report by David Wilkening
