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Labor Day travel expected to jump 11 percent in Arizona

Posted: Sep 2, 2010 5:48 AM
Updated: Sep 2, 2010 8:21 AM


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TUCSON - Labor Day Weekend is right around the corner and some people are already hitting the road. AAA predicts 11 percent more Arizonans will travel this year compared to last Labor Day, with 90 percent of people traveling by car.

"I'm going to go try to get to the casino, and play a little games, spend the day and have a great time," Winston Williams said.

Williams is just one of the 740 thousand Arizonans expected to travel at least 50 miles from home this Labor Day weekend. AAA says the increase may be because, until this point, people have been cautious with their cash and now they are willing to spend.

"A lot of people have been just saving their money and holding off on traveling to save some money during this uncertain economic climate. But people have finally said 'I've got to hit the road and a three day weekend just presents a really good opportunity to do that,'" AAA Arizona Public Affairs Specialist Mary Pekas said.

While travel is expected to be up 11 percent here in Arizona, it is expected to jump 10 percent nationally. AAA predicts 34.4 million Americans will flying, driving or finding another way to get to friends and family.

"I'm actually going to go visit my brother," Rodrigo Gil-Samaniego said. "I'm flying out actually Friday evening, and I'll be out there for Labor Day."

Both flight and gas prices are up this year but flights are up even more.

"Driving would have been phenomenal. We probably would have saved a couple hundred dollars a piece," Gil-Samaniego said.

Those savings are keeping many Arizonans nearby this holiday.

"In Arizona there's a lot of opportunities for travel here locally, in this state, as well as in neighboring states like Colorado, Nevada, and New Mexico," Pekas said.

Taking a short road trip sounds just perfect to Williams and hundreds of thousands of others.

"Labor Day is a day that one always should remember," Williams said.

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