AAA Press Release: Labor Day Travel will be Up

08/22/96

Labor Day Travel Expected To Increase 2% Says AAA

ORLANDO, Fla., Aug. 21 -- This summer's strong travel
season should end on a high note as an estimated 33 million Americans
are expected to travel during the Labor Day holiday, according to the
American Automobile Association.

This year's holiday projection is up nearly 2 percent from 1995 when
32.5 million people traveled 100 miles or more from home and equals
1994's record Labor Day travel activity.

AAA estimates 30 million vacationers will travel by auto, light truck
or recreational vehicle, up nearly 2 percent from last year's 29.5
million motorists.  The number of Americans traveling by airplane, bus
or rail -- 3 million -- is unchanged from last year.

AAA's holiday travel projections are based on a national travel survey
of 1,500 adults by the Travel Industry Association, which conducts
special research for the association.

The greatest number of auto travelers will originate in the West, with
7.2 million, followed by the Southeast, with 6.6 million; Northeast,
6.2 million; Great Lakes and Midwest, both with 5.0 million.

Towns, cities and beaches will be the most popular destinations for
travelers this Labor Day, accounting for 22 percent, 21 percent and 20
percent of the travel volume, respectively.  Other destinations
include: lakes, 12 percent; state or national park, 9 percent;
mountain area, 8 percent; theme/amusement park, 2 percent; and other
or undecided, 6 percent.

Of those spending at least one night at their destination, 37 percent
will stay at a hotel or motel and 22 percent will stay with friends or
relatives.  Other overnight accommodations: cabin or condo, 16
percent; camper, trailer, RV or tent, 11 percent; bed & breakfast, 1
percent; boat/ship, 1 percent; and other, 2 percent.  Ten percent are
undecided or aren't staying overnight.


      PROJECTED NUMBER OF LABOR DAY, 1996 TRAVELERS BY AUTOMOBILE/TRUCK/RV
                    BY CENSUS REGION OF RESIDENCE*

                                 POPULATION        PERCENT      # TRAVELERS
                                 (MILLIONS)       TRAVELING      (MILLIONS)

    TOTAL U.S.                      262.9            11%            30.0
    NORTHEAST                        51.5            12%             6.2
    SOUTHEAST                        63.1            10%             6.6
    GREAT LAKES                      43.5            11%             5.0
    MIDWEST                          47.2            10%             5.0
    WEST                             57.6            12%             7.2

* NORTHEAST: New England: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New
  Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont

  Middle Atlantic: New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania

  SOUTHEAST: South Atlantic: Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida,
  Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West
  Virginia; East South Central: Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi,
  Tennessee

  GREAT LAKES: East North Central: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio,
  Wisconsin

  MIDWEST: West North Central: Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri,
  Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota; West South Central: Arkansas,
  Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas

  WEST: Mountain: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New
  Mexico, Wyoming, Utah; Pacific: Washington, Oregon, California

AAA is a not-for-profit federation of 106 clubs, providing its 39
million members in the United States and Canada with a full line of
travel, insurance, financial and auto-related services.