More Than 25 Million Americans Will Travel Overseas This Summer Says AAA's New International...

More Than 25 Million Americans Will Travel Overseas This Summer Says AAA's New International Forecast

AURORA, Ill.--(Business Wire)--
In a first-ever summer forecast for foreign travel, AAA expects
25.1 million Americans will be traveling internationally this summer,
an increase of 2.6 percent over the 24.5 million who were estimated to
have traveled overseas in summer 2007. The report includes all travel
outside of the United States, including Canada and Mexico.

According to the report, which was produced by Global Insight,
American travelers will be spending $30.7 billion while traveling
internationally during the months of June, July and August. American
spending overseas will increase by 5.7 percent, primarily due to
inflation and the weakness of the U.S. dollar compared to several
major currencies.

"Americans are working harder and longer than ever, and they feel
their vacation is a benefit that they have earned," said Joyce
Moynihan, Regional Travel Manager for AAA. "Foreign travel is still
the ideal trip for many Americans, and summer is the prime season to
go. So, Americans will rearrange their budgets and postpone some
trips, but they are still interested in traveling abroad."

Illinois travelers follow the national trend with both increased
travel and spending from 2007. Illinoisans are expected to take 1,255
trips abroad, an increase of 2.3 percent; and they will spend $1,253,
which is an increase of 5.2 percent.

China and India are expected to see the largest increases in
travel from the U.S. this summer, with China expected to see a 13.4
percent increase (573,000 American travelers) and India up 13.1
percent (227,000 American travelers). Travel to Canada and Mexico this
summer is expected to be similar to last year, with Canada expecting
to see a slight drop of 0.8 percent (5 million American travelers) and
Mexico likely increasing by 1.3 percent (5.8 million American
travelers).

Many of the other destinations that are expected to see big
increases this summer are in Europe. Travel from the U.S. to France is
expected to be up 6.7 percent (1.1 million American travelers),
Ireland up 6.6 percent (337,000 American travelers), Italy up 4.7
percent (1.6 million American travelers) and Germany up 4.4 percent
(724,000 American travelers). These increases are consistent with
AAA's own bookings, which show a 5 percent increase in tours to
Europe.

Americans traveling overseas will be spending more this summer due
to global inflation and the weaker U.S. dollar. The report estimates
that Americans will be spending 5.7 percent more than they did last
summer and international spending by U.S. travelers will reach $30.7
billion. Canada and Mexico will see the largest amount of traveler
spending, with American travelers planning to spend $5.6 billion in
Mexico and $4 billion in Canada. The next highest destinations for
traveler spending are expected to be Italy ($2.6 billion), the United
Kingdom ($2.0 billion), France ($1.7 billion), Germany ($1.2 billion)
and Hong Kong ($645 million).

"The potential for Americans to travel overseas is enormous," said
Moynihan. "Americans love to travel and they have lost their anxiety
about traveling internationally. Now, with more Americans required to
get passports as part of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative
(WHTI), we are going to have more people looking to explore other
parts of the world this summer."

The Global Insight report is based on an economic model that
includes data about the state of the U.S. economy, domestic spending,
foreign exchange rates, historic travel data, travel inflation and
other factors. It is the first forecast that looks at the number of
Americans who will travel overseas during summer, the heaviest travel
period of the year.

The report also provides a forecast for the number of U.S.
residents traveling outside the country broken down by census region
and the top 15 states of origin. To see the full report, log on to
AAA.com/news.

AAA Chicago
Nicole Niemi
(630) 328-7237

Copyright Business Wire 2008