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Holiday Travels Not Slowing Because of Economic Woes
Spectrum Staff
Despite
mounting economic concerns, a desire to maintain traditions, create
memories and build relationships will keep holiday travel plans intact
for most of America’s seniors.
A recent Harris Interactive survey conducted for the Travel Industry Association
found that nearly 60 percent of people traveling over the holidays feel strongly
that the time and money spent is a small price to pay to be with people they
love and said the current economic downturn will not affect their travel plans.
“All indicators point to the fact that people feel the enriching experiences
that holiday travel affords, and the opportunity to share time with loved ones,
is of great value to their life,” explained Suzanne Cook, Senior Vice President
of Research for the Travel Industry Association.
Those surveyed cited creating memories, maintaining traditions, building relationships
and improving a person’s sense of overall well-being as the primary reasons
they would travel over the holidays despite tighter purse strings.
“Holiday travel’s stability and relative strength compared with other
sectors of the economy is an indication of how much people value the experience
of sharing time with loved ones,” Cook said.
Seniors in particular appreciate the value of travel during the holidays. Among
those over 55 who plan on being with out-of-town family or friends over the holiday
season, nearly 79 percent believe the travel experience creates significant memories
for them and/or their children.
Sixty-nine percent of seniors surveyed said the holidays are a time to reconnect
with the family and build meaningful relationships. Over three quarters of all
seniors felt that the time and money involved in travel is small price to pay
for the benefits of being with loved ones.
As a result, the anticipated figures for holiday travel this year are expected
to remain at or near last year’s numbers.
One indication of how positively people view holiday travel can be seen in the
fact that only 37 percent of those who visit with out-of-town family or friends
feel obligated to be with their loved ones at Thanksgiving; 70 percent simply
recognize it as an opportunity to maintain tradition.
A different Harris survey done for a travel discount site, Hotwire.com, netted
similar results, although the Hotwire survey did find that people were traveling
shorter distances.
“In an economic downturn, one might expect consumers to be more hesitant
to travel, even during the holidays,” said Clem Bason, vice-president and
travel expert at Hotwire. “However, our data shows that despite the tightening
of purses, travel is inevitable this time of year.”
The unanticipated decrease in the cost of gasoline has also brightened travel
plans, as consumers faced with recent gasoline prices as high as $4.50 a gallon
suddenly find it has plummeted to nearly $2 per gallon.
An additional incentive to joining family gatherings over the holiday season
is a small drop in the overall cost of a traditional turkey dinner.
“This year, stores are particularly price conscious,” said Jane Shallal,
president of the Associated Food and Petroleum Dealers. “Although the frozen
turkeys cost the retailers around $1 a pound, they are selling them at a loss
to encourage customers to shop in their stores.”
“Retailers are going to great lengths to make this a happy and affordable
Thanksgiving,” Shallal added.
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