by Donald Wood
Last updated: 6:00 PM ET, Thu December 17, 2015
Photo courtesy of Thinkstock
Following the release of AAA's study on the record-breaking number of people expected to hit the road during the year-end holiday season, the United States Travel Association is reporting travelers will spend more in 2016 than last year.
According to experts from the U.S. Travel Association, travelers are expected to spend $28.7 billion on holiday road, rail or airline trips. The association is reporting a slight but steady increase from 2014.
Both the AAA study and the USTA report suggest lower than average gas prices, a rise in disposable income and improvement in the labor market are all contributing to the record number of potential holiday travelers.
U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow shared a statement about the findings:
"Year-end holiday travel and spending is great news for our industry and the U.S. economy, not to mention our families and friends across the country. However, these numbers should remind our elected officials in Washington to keep our roads, railroads and airports a priority, so that travelers can spend their time with their loved ones this holiday season instead of sitting stuck in traffic or on the tarmac."
"Previous research has shown that our roads and skies simply cannot keep up with the demand in travel. Labor Day traffic on the roads and Thanksgiving congestion in airports could soon become our new normal, and this simply will not do. Americans are not going to stop traveling any time soon, and they need a competitive national transportation system that keeps up with them. We urge Congress to take note of this, and continue to advance policies that keep travelers moving-and our nation's economy along with them."
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