Monday, April 23, 2012

Travel News | "Gas prices could hurt summer travel"

By: Press Release
Category: Travel News
Source: http://www.volunteertv.com

Businesses in Sevier County say they are bracing for higher gas prices, and hoping that doesn't keep people away this summer.
A survey by the National Travel Association found that rising gas prices will impact business and leisure travel plans for this summer. Vacationers who plan to travel by car this summer, more than half said that an increase in gas prices would affect their summer leisure travel plans. 26% of business travelers said that an increase in gas prices would affect their summer business travel plans.
Christy Woods and her family have plans for a trip to Myrtle Beach this summer. She says gas prices going above $4 a gallon may change those plans and keep her closer to home.
"It's going to be expensive to go to Myrtle Beach," said Woods. "With gas near $4 a gallon now, yeah that's a lot."
Douglas Roberts says he's already at a point where plans will change.
"It hurts, it really hurts," he said while on a trip from Georgia to Gatlinburg on Sunday. "It's too expensive, plus by the time you pay for your room and everything up here, it's just not worth it. Just stay at home."
The number one way people surveyed said they would alter plans was by taking fewer trips this summer. 43.9% said they would spend less money shopping, and 37.4% spend less money at restaurants.
Burl Cook has run hotels in Pigeon Forge for 50 years. He says he's seen how gas prices have hurt travel in past years. He says one of the worst times came just after the price rise after Hurricane Katrina 2005.
"Gas prices went real high, we took a big drop 3 or 4 years ago when gas prices went so high," said Cook. "It dropped business, it hit us hard 3 years ago and dropped a little each year since."
Cooks says he's noticed more people hiring in Piegon Forge, though he says that if people don't travel because of gas this summer, those jobs could go away.
He says he's optimistic that this will be one of the best years in a long time for the Smoky Mountains.
More than half of all travelers, 57%, who plan to travel by car would alter their travel plans if gas prices increased by at least $0.26 - $1.25.

Source: http://www.volunteertv.com/news/headlines/Gas_prices_could_hurt_summer_travel_148451805.html?ref=805

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