Officials expect increase in tourism

Source: Gongwer
A cool economy shouldn't cool the summer tourism season, Travel Michigan officials said. And even with gasoline prices approaching new records, more travelers should hit the road in Michigan this year, officials said.

A study of more than 2,000 Americans indicated that 79 percent anticipate they will take as many or more trips than they did in 2000.

Based on that survey, Dana Lee Cole, managing director of Travel Michigan, said the agency expects a 2 percent increase in summer tourism this year.

Many of those surveyed said they would take fewer trips by plane. A much smaller percentage said they would cut back on car travel. That being the case, officials expect state residents to stay closer to home in their summer travel.

Also helping drive that optimism were survey figures that showed most those asked considered travel an essential item, and not a luxury, to help keep balance in their lives.
Source: Gongwer