Tighten the belt and travel

NEW YORK Summer travel on US airlines will reach an all-time high this year, and a recent Harris Poll sees similar highs ahead for the US travel industry.
Nearly seven in 10 Americans (68%) have at least one leisure trip planned for the summer (May through August), a slight increase from the 66% last year and an overall steady growth rate since the six in ten (60%) who planned a trip three years ago for summer 2012.
Americans’ outlook on the economy isn’t acting as a barrier when it comes to summer travel. More than half of Americans (53%) say their outlook has no impact on their likelihood to travel this summer – an overall 13% improvement from when this question was first asked six years ago (40% in 2009) – and an additional 9% say their outlook on the economy will make them more likely to travel.
Even so, 27% still say they’re less likely to travel this summer due to their outlook of the economy, but that percentage continues to decrease year over year.
Business People Airport Beach Waiting Flight Corporate ConceptThese are among the findings from a Harris Poll of 2,215 US adults (aged 18 and older) surveyed online from 16 to 20 April.
Business travel, however, has yet to make a similar recovery, with just 15% of Americans planning at least one business trip. While relatively unchanged from last year’s 14%, it’s a cumulative eight-point drop compared to six years ago (23% in 2009).
Regardless the type of travel, Americans plan to spend upwards of USD1,500 on their trips, on average. Those planning summer leisure travel anticipate spending an average of USD1,722 on their trips, while those anticipating a business trip plan to spend US1,513, on average.
To see other recent Harris Polls, please visit new website, TheHarrisPoll.com. (PRNewswire).

sourced:ttrweekly.com