Michigan Tourism Softens in Second Quarter 2002, Comerica Reports

Press Release: Comerica Bank
September 13, 2002
DETROIT, MI -- Tourism activity in Michigan declined 3.1-points between the first quarter 2002 and second quarter 2002, according to the Michigan Tourism Index compiled by Detroit-based Comerica Bank. The second quarter index, at 117.76, is down 5.0 percent from 123.92 a year earlier.

"Springtime tourism in Michigan was a disappointing seven-year setback, returning us to levels of tourism activity not seen since 1995," said David L. Littmann, senior vice president and chief economist of Comerica Bank. "All categories of state tourism were lower when compared with year-ago levels, except museum visits, and Mackinac Bridge crossings held up well. Especially hard hit were those facets of tourism affected by intensified federal security efforts, namely international transit and airline traffic."

                            First Quarters Compared       Annual Average

                              2002          2001       % Change      2001

    Tourism Index            117.76        123.92         (5.0)     119.54

    Occupancy Index          103.06        106.15         (2.9)     109.49
    Airline Traffic          137.64        157.31        (12.5)     144.48
    Vehicular Traffic        106.25        121.33        (12.4)     112.25
    Mackinac Crossings       124.52        124.74         (0.2)     131.79
    Museum                   117.34        110.05         6.62       99.68


The Michigan Tourism Index is a quarterly summary of five seasonally- adjusted travel and lodging data series which serve as a non-inflationary proxy for statewide tourism activity. Quarterly and annual data for the Michigan Tourism Index (base year 1992 = 100) is available upon request.

Comerica Incorporated (NYSE: CMA) is a multi-state financial services provider headquartered in Detroit, with banking subsidiaries in Michigan, California and Texas, banking operations in Florida, and businesses in several other states.

Source: Comerica Bank