(Irving, Texas) - This year more Texans are planning to travel during the summer vacation season than they did in 2011, even despite high gas prices, according to the AAA Texas Fourth Annual Summer Travel Survey.
- 75 percent of polled Texans said they definitely plan at least one summer trip
- 19 percent will definitely not travel this summer (42 percent of these cited high gas prices as a reason)
- 6 percent are undecided
- Last year: 72 percent had definite summer travel plans, 17 percent did not and 11 percent were undecided
Among those who are vacationing this summer, 44 percent said that high gas prices are affecting their travel plans very little or not at all.
"High gas prices obviously have more of an impact on consumers who are already dealing with other economic challenges, but we do see many travelers adjusting their budgets in some way," said AAA Texas Vice President Branch Operations, Rhonda Wilson. "Travelers are more careful about how they spend their money and also expect a much greater value for their travel dollar."
The top five summer destinations for Texans, according to the poll:
- San Antonio (16 percent)
- Galveston (16 percent)
- Austin (14 percent)
- Dallas/Fort Worth (13 percent)
- A national park in Texas, i.e. Big Bend National Park (11 percent)
The top ways that Texas travelers are adjusting for high gas prices in their travel budgets include:
- Not taking as many trips (26 percent)
- Economizing on the vacation meal budget (19 percent)
- Picking a destination that allows a family/friends stay instead of a hotel (17 percent)
- Shorter vacation(s) (17 percent)
- Destination closer to home (17 percent)
The number of summer trips that Texans plan to take this year compared to last year:
- One trip: 32 percent (37 percent last year)
- Two: 34 percent (40 percent last year)
- Three: 26 percent (19 percent last year)
- Four: 3 percent (2 percent last year)
- Five or more: 4 percent (2 percent last year)
The top reasons that the 19 percent of non-travelers this summer are not taking a vacation:
- High gas prices (42 percent)
- Too many other expenses/bills (32 percent)
- Rising prices for travel (28 percent)
- Taking a leisure trip at another time of year (21 percent)
- Rising prices for household expenses other than gas (18 percent)
This survey has a +/-5.2 percent margin of error, and 356 AAA Texas members were surveyed online by the AAA Texas Marketing Research Department from May 17 to May 29, 2012. "Summer travel" was defined in the survey as a non-business trip in June, July or August of more than 50 miles one way from home and requiring at least one overnight stay.
As North America's largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 53 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA Texas can be visited on the Internet at AAA.com.
We welcome and appreciate forwarding of our Smart News in their entirety or in part with proper attribution.
(c) June 20, 2012 by AAA Texas
