94.5 Million Americans Traveling This Holiday Season

The following is a press release from AAA:

Less than a month after a flat Thanksgiving travel period, Americans have decided to make merry and take a trip over the Christmas/New Year’s holiday, says AAA Southern New England.

This season, an estimated 94.5 million Americans—a scant 6/10th of a percent increase over last year—are either visiting family or friends; or vacationing between Saturday, Dec. 21, and Wednesday, Jan. 1. 

In New England, about 28% of a population of 4 million are traveling, a percentage that reflects a 7/10th of a percent increase.

According to its annual holiday travel survey, AAA reports the upward national trend marks the fifth consecutive year of increases during the year-end holiday period. In addition, the national number reflects the highest holiday travel volume AAA has recorded for the season.

Of the overall 94.5 million folks traveling nationally:

• 91% or 85.8 million people will travel by auto, a 9/10th of a percent increase over last year
• 6% or 5.53 million people will travel by air, a 1.4% decrease;
• The remaining 3.13 million will take some other form of transportation.

Travel experts are attributing this year’s small regional and national holiday increase to the country’s sluggish economic recovery. Even though the economy continues to improve, there’s still an air of uncertainty in the minds of travelers about spending money. 

AAA’s projections are based on economic forecasting and research by IHS Global Insight. AAA has been reporting on holiday travel trends for more than two decades. The complete AAA / IHS Global Insight 2013 Year-end Holiday Travel Forecast can be found at NewsRoom.AAA.com.