|
Summer Travel Affected By Gas Prices |
|
|
|
Monday, 02 June 2008 |
The high price of gasoline has reduced the number of travelers as indicated by the Memorial Day weekend. With gas prices reaching the $4.00/gal range, many families are adjusting their travel plans this summer to cut costs. A recent survey by AAA indicated the first drop in vacation traveling since 2002 with slightly more than 1 percent drop in travel expected over the total that traveled last year.
Many families are reducing the distant they plan to travel this vacation season. Some popular vacation destinations indicated a drop of more than 13 percent during the recent holiday weekend. Many travelers noticed that there was less traffic on the road over the recent holiday weekend. A survey by Deloitte & Touche of more than 1000 Americans conducted in mid-May found that 23 percent of those they surveyed altered their Memorial Day weekend plans. 12 percent indicated they had canceled their vacation plans and 11 percent planned to reduce the distance they traveled.
The average traveler at the beginning of the summer plans to travel no more than 90 miles from their home. The newest buzz word that has been coined is "Staycation", spending a family vacation at home. Besides the high cost of gasoline, food costs and the price of goods and services has also been affected by the increase in petroleum.
Most families still plan to have a family vacation this year, but are adjusting their plans to fit their budgets. Adding to the rising cost of gasoline, Georgia still has plans to raise the state tax on gasoline July 1st this year 2.9 cents. This is the date that the State's fisical year starts. Originally, the increase in the gas tax was suppose to begin before the start of the summer vacation season. Sonny Purdue delayed the tax implimentation during the Memorial Day weekend. Unless this is delayed again, Georgia will increase the gasoline tax in the middle of the summer vacation season.
Note: As of June 2, Sonney Purdue, the Georgia governer has put a freeze on allowing the 2.9 cent increase per gallon tax increase to go into effect on July 1st.
Only registered users can write comments.
Please login or register. Powered by AkoComment Tweaked Special Edition v.1.4.4 |
|
Last Updated ( Tuesday, 03 June 2008 )
|
Be first to comment this article
Articles