Phoenix, Ariz. May 12, 2009 – While the number of Memorial Day travelers nationwide is slated to reverse the travel decline that has plagued the nation during the last five holidays, Arizona will not follow suit, according to AAA’s annual Memorial Day travel survey.

According to the forecast, which includes data specific to Arizona for the first time in the auto club’s history, an estimated 761,000 Arizonans are projected to travel 50 or more miles from home over the first summer holiday weekend. This represents a decline of 2.5 percent, or 20,000 fewer travelers, from last year. Nationwide, 32.4 million Americans will travel over Memorial Day weekend, an increase of 1.5 percent, or 500,000 more travelers than last year.

“This year’s continued decline in Memorial Day travel can be attributed to the recession, which has hit Arizona harder than other states,” said Public Affairs Director Linda Gorman. “However, it is important to point out that the decline projected for the upcoming holiday is significantly lower than last year’s decline, which illustrates that the trend appears to be reversing. Arizonans are starting to travel again, albeit more slowly than other Americans.”

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

Arizona travelers planning to vacation over the holiday weekend will likely notice that the cost of traveling has also changed from last year, according to AAA’s Leisure Travel Index. The table below illustrates the change in travel related costs from Memorial Day 2008:

“With motorists now paying $1.518 less per gallon compared to last year and the travel industry continuing to offer promotions to boost business over the holiday and summer, we encourage travelers to seek out and take advantage of these deals,” Gorman added. “We also encourage consumers to utilize a variety of planning resources that will help them save money and stay within their budget.”

AAA offers several tools that can help travelers plan and budget for their trip before they head out of town. The auto club’s resources include:

• SmartPlanner (http://www.aaaaz.com/travel/budget_calc.htm), which helps travelers to calculate the appropriate costs for their trip in order to keep their travel budget in check.
   
• Fuel Cost Calculator (www.FuelCostCalculator.com), where motorists can get an estimated cost of fuel for their trip by entering the make and model of their car, as well as the origin and destination of their trip.
   
• Fuel Price Finder (www.aaa.com/fuelfinder), which can help motorists find the cheapest gas along their travel route.
        
• TripTik® Travel Planner, (www.aaa.com/triptik), an online mapping tool that provides travelers with door-to-door directions and helps plot the cheapest gas stations along their vacation path. In addition, motorists who use this tool will be able to view historic Memorial Day congestion information. With this information, they can avoid peak congestion times or modify their route.
       
• AAA iPhone App (http://www.aaaaz.com/travel/iphone.htm), a free, GPS-based "app" that displays retail locations of AAA Show Your Card & Save® partners near user locations.

Research for Memorial Day weekend holiday travel projections are derived from IHS Global Insight.  Analysis of the data and the forecasts are produced by the IHS Global Insight, which conducts special research for the auto club.

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.