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DESPITE NEED FOR SAFETY AND HIGH GAS PRICES, AMERICANS PLAN TO KEEP TRAVELING
August 16, 2006
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Contacts: David Bratton, 415-307-3283
Erin Francis, 415-716-7983
Destination Analysts
1737 Union Street
San Francisco, CA 94123
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DESPITE NEED FOR SAFETY AND HIGH GAS PRICES, AMERICANS PLAN TO KEEP TRAVELING

Survey reveals Americans traveling for leisure nearly every other month and will continue to take as many or more trips in the next 12 months; would travel even more frequently if gas was less expensive.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - - August 16, 2006 - - Destination Analysts, one of the tourism industry’s premier marketing research companies, released the findings from its “The State of the American Traveler” study.  The company surveyed 1,044 adult Americans who have taken at least one trip for leisure or personal reasons in the past year.   

The number of leisure trips taken in the past 12 months averaged 5.5, with nearly 90% of American travelers saying they expect to travel for leisure at the same rate or more next year.  Other good news for the travel industry is that 44% of these travelers also plan to spend more on their leisure travel in the coming year.

The automobile continues to be the most commonly used method of transport for leisure travel, despite 47% of travelers stating that high gas prices deterred them from taking more trips.  

Safety is also on the American traveler’s mind.  Approximately 10 percent of leisure travelers said that safety concerns kept them from traveling more than they would have otherwise preferred in the past 12 months.  When asked to evaluate what attributes were most important to their destination choices, “safety” came out on top, with 89% selecting it as important or very important.  “This survey reveals that, even before last week’s foiled terrorist plot, Americans valued safety in their destination choices,” says Destination Analysts founder, David Bratton.   

Asked where they would most like to visit in the coming year, the most popular domestic destinations were Las Vegas, New York City, and Orlando/Disneyworld. Europe dominated the list of foreign destinations, with the UK, Italy and France being the top three.

A four-page summary of “The State of the American Traveler” study can be downloaded at www.destinationanalysts.com/AmericanTravelerSummer06.pdf

About Destination Analysts:
Destination Analysts, Inc is a San Francisco-based marketing and research company specializing in the travel, tourism and lifestyle industries. Founded in 2003, Destination Analysts has provided innovative, affordable research solutions to many organizations charged with tourism marketing success, including the US Forest Service, Fiji Islands Visitors Bureau North America, and Jackson Wine Estates.

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Summary

Active Image
Contacts: David Bratton, 415-307-3283
Erin Francis, 415-716-7983
Destination Analysts
1737 Union Street
San Francisco, CA 94123
Info@destinationanalysts.com

DESPITE NEED FOR SAFETY AND HIGH GAS PRICES, AMERICANS PLAN TO KEEP TRAVELING

Survey reveals Americans traveling for leisure nearly every other month and will continue to take as many or more trips in the next 12 months; would travel even more frequently if gas was less expensive.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - - August 16, 2006 - - Destination Analysts, one of the tourism industry’s premier marketing research companies, released the findings from its “The State of the American Traveler” study.  The company surveyed 1,044 adult Americans who have taken at least one trip for leisure or personal reasons in the past year.   

The number of leisure trips taken in the past 12 months averaged 5.5, with nearly 90% of American travelers saying they expect to travel for leisure at the same rate or more next year.  Other good news for the travel industry is that 44% of these travelers also plan to spend more on their leisure travel in the coming year.

The automobile continues to be the most commonly used method of transport for leisure travel, despite 47% of travelers stating that high gas prices deterred them from taking more trips.  

Safety is also on the American traveler’s mind.  Approximately 10 percent of leisure travelers said that safety concerns kept them from traveling more than they would have otherwise preferred in the past 12 months.  When asked to evaluate what attributes were most important to their destination choices, “safety” came out on top, with 89% selecting it as important or very important.  “This survey reveals that, even before last week’s foiled terrorist plot, Americans valued safety in their destination choices,” says Destination Analysts founder, David Bratton.   

Asked where they would most like to visit in the coming year, the most popular domestic destinations were Las Vegas, New York City, and Orlando/Disneyworld. Europe dominated the list of foreign destinations, with the UK, Italy and France being the top three.

A four-page summary of “The State of the American Traveler” study can be downloaded at www.destinationanalysts.com/AmericanTravelerSummer06.pdf

About Destination Analysts:
Destination Analysts, Inc is a San Francisco-based marketing and research company specializing in the travel, tourism and lifestyle industries. Founded in 2003, Destination Analysts has provided innovative, affordable research solutions to many organizations charged with tourism marketing success, including the US Forest Service, Fiji Islands Visitors Bureau North America, and Jackson Wine Estates.

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