TTRRC TRAVEL, TOURISM, AND RECREATION RESOURCE CENTER  
Michigan State University  
 
 


News Release
From: Travel, Tourism, and Recreation Resource Center                       For Immediate Release
Contact: Dr. Donald F. Holecek - (517) 353-0793                                   Date: August 19, 2002    
           
Twenty Percent of Michigan Households Plan to Travel in Michigan over the Labor Day Weekend
 
EAST LANSING— Labor Day weekend is traditionally the second busiest for Michigan’s tourism industry, and results from a survey conducted by Michigan State University’s Tourism Resource Center indicate traffic will be exceptionally heavy over this holiday weekend. Nearly 20% of Michigan households are planning a trip of 50 miles or more from home over this Labor Day weekend. Only about 15% of Michigan households indicated that they took a Michigan trip over the Labor Day weekend in 2001, so traffic is expected to be considerably heavier this year than last year. MSU’s survey results also indicate that more people from adjacent states will be visiting Michigan destinations over the Labor Day holiday.

MSU researchers indicate that the projected increase in Michigan travel this weekend extends a trend for households to travel by auto and to stay closer to home. This trend began after terrorism attacks on 9/11, but economic concerns have fueled it in recent months. Relatively steady gasoline prices have reinforced households’ tendency to travel by private vehicle, and safety and convenience concerns have diminished their interest in traveling by air. While households appear to be spending less on travel this year than last, which is not good news for Michigan’s tourism industry, the negative impact of reduced overall travel spending has been largely offset by Michigan and nearby states’ residents’ tendencies to spend their travel dollars in Michigan.