Memorial weekend is just a little over a week away. With schools letting out all over the country, it is generally accepted as the kick-off of the summer travel season. According to AAA estimates, more than 2 million Floridians are expected to travel during the upcoming Memorial weekend. They are part of the 39.9 million Americans that are estimated to make a holiday trip which is a 2.7% increase from last year and the third consecutive year of growth.
AAA also reports that their travel bookings in Florida are up 17% compared to this time last year. Vicky Evans, assistant vice president of travel sales development for AAA said, “Higher confidence, rising wages and recent gas-price declines have bolstered consumer spending, leaving many Americans with more money to spend on travel this Memorial Day.” Falling gas prices, which have dropped 20 cents in the past 21 days, encourage travel as 88% of holiday tourists are expected to travel by car.
Richard Maladecki, president and CEO of the Central Florida Hotel & Lodging Association, reported that the lodging community is seeing positive numbers and that they’re expecting another successful Memorial Day weekend for their tourism industry.
In the recent weeks though the Central Florida tourism leaders have been addressing declining theme-park attendance and a drop in international visitors. This is expected to turn around with the two big theme park debuts scheduled for Memorial Day weekend. Universal Orlando will open Volcano Bay water park, with its 200 foot high volcano, on May 25th. Two days later Walt Disney World will hold the grand opening of Pandora – The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Will you be traveling to Orlando to see these theme park debuts over Memorial weekend?
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