Phoenix, Ariz. June 25, 2009. A trend that has plagued Arizona for six consecutive holidays is slated to continue for the upcoming July Fourth holiday, although it is beginning to show signs of a rebound. Fewer people are planning to head out of town for the upcoming holiday weekend versus last year, according to AAA’s travel forecast. However, with 718,000 Arizonans expected to travel 50 or more miles from home, the decline in travel is substantially less compared to recent holidays, as well as last year comparisons.

According to the forecast, Arizona is slated to produce 3,000 fewer travelers for the upcoming Fourth of July holiday. This represents 0.4 percent decline in Independence Day travel compared to last year and less than the 2.5 percent travel decline in recent statewide Memorial Day travel figures. Nationwide, 37.1 million Americans will travel over the holiday weekend, a decline of nearly two percent, or 700,000 fewer travelers compared to last year.

“Arizonans are continuing to remain cautious about the outlook of their personal finances and the economy, which is reflected in the slight decline in travel we are projecting for the upcoming holiday weekend,” said Public Affairs Director Linda Gorman. “However, it is important to note that the decline we are slated to experience this holiday is significantly lower than what we experienced last year as well as what we experienced for Memorial Day 2009. This continues to point to a slow, yet steady travel recovery.”

The table below illustrates projected 2009 Independence Day travel compared to 2008:

“One interesting trend Arizona is slated to experience this Independence Day is an eight percent increase in air travel,” added Gorman. “This can in large part be attributed to reduced airfares and pent up consumer demand.”

Arizona travelers planning to vacation over the holiday weekend will likely notice that they will be able to keep more cash in their wallets, according to AAA’s Leisure Travel Index. The table below illustrates the change in travel related costs from Independence Day weekend 2008:

“Those who do vacation this summer will find a plethora of discounts and special offers resulting in some outstanding vacation values,” Gorman added. “If you can afford to do so, this summer is a smart time to travel.”

AAA understands that saving money when vacationing is not just about finding deals and discounts, but getting maximum value for your money. As a result, the auto club is providing the following travel planning tips and resources to help travelers maximize their travel dollars:

• Conceptualize. Think about what you really want from a vacation while establishing a budget and making saving a part of your vacation planning. Utilize AAA’s SmartPlanner (http://www.aaaaz.com/travel/budget_calc.htm) tool to calculate the appropriate costs for your trip in order to keep the travel budget in check.
  
  
• Plan ahead. Book early, use a travel agency, and use tools that can help you plan, save money and time, such as AAA’s Fuel Cost Calculator (www.FuelCostCalculator.com) as well as the auto club’s TripTik® Travel Planner (www.aaa.com/triptik).
  
  
• Be prepared. If you’re planning a road trip, have your vehicle inspected by AAA owned or Approved Auto Repair facility beforehand. Also, consider renting a GPS Navigation device to help you avoid getting lost and/or to make driving in unfamiliar areas easier.
  
  
• Continue to save while away. Take advantage of public transportation, “kids eat free” specials and/or purchase a picnic lunch at a local market for a fun and money-saving option. Also, download the AAA iPhone App (http://www.aaaaz.com/travel/iphone.htm), a free, GPS-based "app" that displays retail locations of AAA’s discount program partners near user locations.
  
  

Research for Independence Day weekend holiday travel projections is conducted by IHS Global Insight.  Analysis of the data and the forecasts are produced by IHS Global Insight, which conducts special research for AAA.

AAA Arizona, the Arizona affiliate of AAA, provides automotive, insurance and auto travel services to nearly 800,000 Arizona members.  Annually, AAA’s Emergency Road Service responds to more than 450,000 calls for help on the streets and highways of the state as well as providing insurance, travel, and financial services to AAA members and motorists.  Since its founding in 1927, AAA Arizona has been a leading advocate for the safety and security of all travelers.