Good afternoon,
Earlier this month, the U.S. Travel Association issued its monthly Travel Data Report which showed both promise and peril for our tourism industry. On the plus side, the report showed a 3% growth in travel spending, the first such increase since the start of the pandemic. Another positive was that 28% of travelers plan to spend significantly more on travel this summer, reflecting the pent-up demand caused by travel restrictions.
However, nearly six in 10 American travelers (59%) say rising gas prices will impact their decision to travel in the next six months.
An earlier poll by Bank of America had similar results. Conducted in March, this survey found that 62% of the 1,055 respondents plan to travel more than usual, but 41% said higher gas prices might derail those plans, with 28% saying they might make fewer or shorter trips to offset higher cost.
This is where the rich array of festivals we have in northern Arizona might be helpful. In addition to cooler temperatures and the beauty of our region, these festivals also give visitors (particularly in-state tourists) an event to anchor their trip and an added incentive to hit the road, despite higher fuel cost.
