THE TRAVEL FORECAST FOR THE UPCOMING INDEPENDENCE DAY HOLIDAY SHOWS ONLY SLIGHTLY MORE RESIDENTS IN IOWA AND SIX OTHER MIDWESTERN STATES WILL BE ON THE ROAD OR IN THE AIR FOR THE LONG WEEKEND, COMPARED TO A YEAR AGO.
TRIPLE-A-IOWA SPOKESMAN BRIAN ORTNER SAYS CONSTANTLY CHANGING GASOLINE PRICES HAVE MADE SOME TRAVELERS IN THE REGION SKITTISH ABOUT HOW MUCH THEY’LL HAVE TO SPEND ON A SHORT GET-AWAY VACATION.
AAATRAVEL1 OC……. “A MONTH AGO” ;16
HERE IN SIOUX CITY, E-15 WAS AT $2.94 A GALLON AND REGULAR UNLEADED $3.05 ON SUNDAY AT SOME LOCATIONS.
THAT’S DOWN AROUND 70 CENTS A GALLON FROM A MONTH AGO.
ORTNER SAYS WHILE DRIVING AND AIR TRAVEL NUMBERS ARE DOWN FOR THE REGION, CRUISES AND OTHER MODES OF TRANSPORTATION — LIKE BUSES AND TRAINS — ARE SEEING GROWTH;
AAATRAVEL2 OC……….”AND FRIENDS” ;21
FOR THOSE WHO ARE DRIVING, ORTNER SAYS THE INDEPENDENCE DAY WEEKEND IS AMONG THE MOST DANGEROUS TIMES TO BE ON THE ROAD;
AAATRAVEL3 “CELEBRATE SAFELY” :16
RATHER THAN STAYING HOME, MANY TRAVELERS ARE CHOOSING TO OFFSET HIGHER TRAVEL COSTS BY TAKING SHORTER VACATIONS, PICKING DESTINATIONS CLOSER TO HOME, AND CUTTING BACK ON EXTRAS LIKE EATING OUT AND SOUVENIRS.
