Phoenix, Ariz. August 26, 2009. As the final three day weekend of the summer nears, hundreds of thousands of Arizonans will soon be taking to the roads and skies. However, for the eighth consecutive holiday, fewer Arizonans are planning to head out of town for Labor Day weekend versus last year, according to AAA’s travel forecast. However, despite a drop in statewide holiday travel traffic, the 7.4 percent projected dip in Arizona is nearly half the average of the nationwide travel decline of 13.3 percent.
According to the forecast, Arizona is slated to produce 714,000 travelers for the upcoming Labor Day holiday. While this is just 4,000 fewer travelers from Independence Day this summer, it represents 57,000 fewer travelers, or a 7.4 percent decline, compared to Labor Day 2008. Nationwide, 39.1 million Americans will travel over the holiday weekend, a decline of 13.3 percent, or six million fewer travelers compared to last year.
“Labor Day falls a week later on the calendar this year, which means the school year is well underway and families are out of summer travel mode and looking ahead to the fall,” said AAA Arizona Public Affairs Director Linda Gorman. “In addition, holiday traffic will be adversely affected by would-be travelers continuing to exercise caution over economic uncertainly, as concerns over unemployment rates and the housing market persist.”
The table below illustrates projected 2009 Labor Day travel compared to 2008:
Labor Day 2009 |
Overall Travelers |
Auto Travelers |
Air Travelers |
Misc. Travelers |
Total United States |
39.1 million |
32.9 million |
1.5 million |
4.8 million |
Change from Last Year (U.S.) |
-13.3 percent |
-11.8 percent |
-20.0 percent |
-20.5 percent |
Total Arizona |
714,000 |
557,000 |
40,000 |
117,000 |
Change from Last Year (Ariz.) |
-7.4 percent |
-5.1 percent |
-14.4 percent |
-14.6 percent |
Despite a later calendar date, a flurry of end-of-summer deals will help Arizona Labor Day travelers to spend less money than they did last year, according to AAA’s Leisure Travel Index. The table below illustrates the change in travel related costs from Labor Day weekend 2008:
Travel Cost |
Labor Day Weekend 2008 |
Labor Day
Weekend 2009 |
Change from
Last Year |
AAA Three Diamond Hotel |
$152.00 |
$132.00 |
-13 percent |
AAA Two Diamond Hotel |
$114.00 |
$101.00 |
-11 percent |
Airfare |
$197.00 |
$164.00 |
-17 percent |
Car Rental |
$40.00 |
$43.00 |
+7 percent |
Arizona Gas Price (per gallon) |
$3.626 |
$2.642 (to date) |
-27 percent |
“With a 12.2 percent average decline in travel prices compared to Labor Day 2008, Arizonans who do travel over the upcoming holiday weekend will undoubtedly see their money go further,” Gorman added.
One way travelers can easily locate travel savings over the upcoming holiday weekend is by downloading the AAA iPhone App, 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. The auto club has been reporting on holiday travel trends for more than two decades.
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.
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