Americans Unfazed by Safety Issues, High Prices at the Pump

Americans traveling for leisure nearly every other month and will continue to take as many or more trips in the next 12 months, would travel even more frequently if gas was less expensive, a survey revealed recently.

San Francisco-based marketing and research firm, Destination Analysts, released the findings from its “The State of the American Traveler” study, which surveyed 1,044 adult Americans who have taken at least one trip for leisure or personal reasons in the past year.

The study showed the number of leisure trips taken in the past 12 months averaged 5.5, with nearly 90 percent of American travelers saying they expect to travel for leisure at the same rate or more next year.

Other good news for the travel industry, Destination Analysts said, is that 44 percent of these travelers also plan to spend more on their leisure travel in the coming year.

The survey also revealed automobile continues to be the most commonly used method of transport for leisure travel, despite 47 percent of travelers stating that high gas prices deterred them from taking more trips.