Home Editor's Picks The Week in Stats: Heading Into Memorial Day, Good Signs for Travel

Editor's Picks

The Week in Stats: Heading Into Memorial Day, Good Signs for Travel

This post may contain affiliate links. We may earn money or products from the highlighted keywords or companies or banners mentioned in this post.

May 22, 2015By: Adam Leposa

With a recent Memorial Day travel forecast from AAA predicting positive numbers for travel over the holiday weekend, this week in travel stats has some good signs for the industry.

37.2 Million Americans to Travel This Memorial Day

In a healthy start to the summer travel season AAA predicts that 37.2 million Memorial Day travelers will represent a 4.7 percent increase over last year and the highest volume in 10 years.

“Following a harsh winter, many Americans are trading in their snow boots for flip flops and making plans to start the season with a vacation getaway,” said Marshall L. Doney, AAA president. “AAA is expecting more Memorial Day travelers this year than any time in the past 10 years as confident consumers come out of hibernation ready to explore national parks, beach destinations and America’s great cities.”

A number of economic factors are contributing to the large increase in holiday travelers this year. “A strong employment market and low gas prices have driven consumer optimism to new highs and boosted Americans’ disposable income. This is welcome news for the travel industry,” continued Doney.

London Sets Record With 17.4 Million Visitors

The positive numbers continue in London, with a report that the city set another tourism record in 2014 with 17.4 million international visitors, according to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics International Passenger Survey (IPS).

During this period the city hosted numerous exhibitions and events, including Henri Matisse: The Cut Outs at the Tate Modern, Ming: 50 years that Changed China at the British Museum, Anselm Kiefer at the Royal Academy, Sherlock Holmes at the Museum of London, the Frieze Art Fair, the Tour de France Grand Départ, Wimbledon Tennis Championships and the Chelsea Flower Show.

A record 58 million people from the UK and overseas visited the city’s 40 most popular tourist attractions last year, up four percent compared to 2013, according to the Attractions Monitor, a detailed visitor survey compiled by London & Partners, the Mayor’s international promotional company for the city.

Paris Tops Cities for Meetings and Events

In the MICE sector, Paris won out in terms of top cities for meetings and events, according to the annual ranking by the ICCA. The United States was the number one country.