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Press Release: Travel Industry Association of America
May 20, 2004
WASHINGTON, DC -- Real recovery in the travel and tourism industry is clearly underway, with the Travel Industry
Association of America (TIA) forecasting a 3.2 percent increase in leisure travel for the 2004 summer season. According
to TIA's Summer 2004 Forecast, Americans will take more than 334 million person-trips during June, July and August
2004. A person- trip is one person traveling 50+ miles, one-way, away from home.
"For the first time in years, the summer travel season will start off with a bang and we expect it to stay
strong through August," remarked Dr. Suzanne Cook, senior vice president of research for the Travel Industry
Association of America. "But there are some causes for concern, including rising gas prices and higher inflation.
We are also sensing a general unease among Americans concerning the affordability of travel, which isn't surprising
considering travel prices have risen 7 percent since December."
Summer Leisure Travel Volume
June, July, August 2004
(in millions of person-trips)
2000 2001 2002 2003p 2004f
311.0 311.3 316.5 324.2 334.5
The dramatic shift in travel trends over the past few years, such as Americans taking more driving vacations, staying
closer-to-home and visiting more rural destinations, will still be prevalent this summer but there are signs the
trends are softening. Air travel is expected to increase 5 percent this summer, primarily due to leisure travelers,
compared to a 3 percent increase in auto travel. RV travel is likely to remain very strong this summer.
Americans expect to stay away an average of 7.6 nights on their longest pleasure trip, down slightly from last
year. Travelers plan on spending an average of $1,101 on their longest pleasure trip this summer, up 4.4 percent
from summer 2003.
Summer 2004 Travelers' Wish List
Top Ten Destinations Travelers Would
Most Like to Visit This Summer
Florida 38%
California 29%
Hawaii 16%
New York 15%
Colorado 12%
Texas 11%
Nevada 9%
Washington, DC 5%
Virginia 5%
Alaska 5%
Source: Travel Industry Association of America
SUMMER 2004 HIGHLIGHTS
* Many trips will include children this summer, with 38 percent of
travelers taking kids on their longest trip. Six percent will include a
grandchild.
* Traveling with one's spouse is also popular (58%), as is traveling with
other family members (20%) and traveling with friends (14%). Seven
percent will travel with their parents and 6 percent will travel alone.
* Visiting friends and relatives (77%), going to a beach or lake (73%) and
visiting small towns or rural areas (65%) are the top three most popular
summer activities.
* Summer travelers also plan on: visiting cities/urban areas (61%),
visiting national or state parks/forests (48%), visiting historic sites
(41%), attending a family reunion (38%) or camping, hiking or climbing
(37%).
* More than one-third of all summer travelers plan on attending a
performing arts event, such as a concert or play. Similar percentages
plan on attending a cultural event, such as an ethnic festival or
heritage activity, and visiting a museum.
* Nearly one-third (32%) of summer travelers say they will go to theme
parks, while 26 percent intend to go to a gambling casino. Nineteen
percent of travelers plan to use an RV, while 18 percent intend to enjoy
an all-inclusive resort. Ten percent say they plan to take a cruise.
TIA is the national, non-profit organization representing all components of the $552 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.
Source: Travel Industry Association of America