Adventure travelers are everywhere. One-half of U.S. adults, or 98 million people, have taken an adventure trip in the past five years. This includes 31 million adults who engaged in hard adventure activities like whitewater rafting, scuba diving and mountain biking. Adventure travelers are more likely to be young, single and employed compared to all other U.S. adults. (Source: Adventure Travel Report.)

African-American travel volume is up 4 percent from 2000 to 2002 (increasing from 72.2 million to 75.2 million person-trips), higher than the two percent increase for travelers overall during the same time period. A majority of African-American person-trips are for leisure (74%), most often to visit friends or relatives (44%). One in five (22%) African-American person-trips are taken for business, including combined business and pleasure purposes. Florida, North Carolina, and Georgia are the most popular Southern destinations. Virginia and Texas are also popular destinations. Group tours are popular among African-Americans. Compared to travelers overall, nearly three times as many African-American person-trips involve group tours (10% vs. 3%). African-American households spend $428 per trip, on average, excluding spending on transportation to their destination. (Source: The Minority Traveler, 2003 Edition)

Air Travel The Air Travel Survey, a study from TIA, and sponsored by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, examines the possible reasons for the continued declines in air travel among travelers who have taken at least one air trip in the past year. In 2002, 30 percent of all air business travelers reported traveling less by air in the past 12 months, as compared to only 21 percent who said they traveled more. Eighty percent of leisure air travelers say they traveled the same amount or more in the past year. Despite the decrease in air travel in the past year, intentions are relatively strong for 2003.

Nearly 80 percent of all air business travelers say their company has one or more business travel policies in place. One-third said that one or more of these policies were implemented in just the past year. Examples of these new restrictions include limiting the class of air service that can be used (14%), requiring U.S.-only travel (31%), limiting travel per diems (19%), restricting the number of employees traveling (25%), and requiring/recommending they drive instead of fly (34%). The improvement in online business communications has accelerated the use of technology as an alternative to taking business trips. Business travelers are turning to the Internet for the best airline ticket price, with almost half of all business air travelers personally purchasing their ticket online at least once in the past year.

Asian-American travel volume has grown 10 percent from 2000 to 2002, increasing from 30.0 million to 33.1 million person-trips. Leisure travel accounts for 77 percent of all travel taken by Asian-Americans, and like other U.S. travelers they visit friends and relatives most often (40%), followed by entertainment (18%) and outdoor recreation (8%). Business travel, including travel for a combination of business and pleasure purposes, accounts for one in five (21%) person-trips taken by this group. Compared to travelers overall, Asian-Americans travel to California, Nevada, and Hawaii much more often. Asian-American households spend $515 per trip, on average, excluding spending on transportation to their destination, more than the average household trip spending in the U.S. ($457). This group has a much higher tendency to include shopping as trip activity compared to total U.S. travelers (39% of person-trips vs. 34%). (Source: The Minority Traveler, 2003 Edition)

Baby Boomers households generated the highest travel volume in the U.S. in 2003 (registering 268.9 million trips, more that any other age group).  Baby Boomer households (households headed by someone age 35-54) are the most likely to stay in a hotel, motel or bed and breakfast establishment on overnight trips (59%) and travel for business (29%). (Source: Domestic Travel Market Report, 2004 Edition.)

Beaches are one of the most popular travel activities. One in ten person-trips (10%) includes going to a beach, equating to 109.5 million domestic person-trips taken in the U.S. in 2003.  Long trips are popular with beach-goers as 36 percent of beach person-trips last a week or longer. Among household trips including beaches, 41 percent include children. (Source: Domestic Travel Market Report, 2004 Edition.)

Biking vacations attracted more than 27 million travelers in the past five years and they rank as the third most popular outdoor vacation activity in America, (following camping and hiking). People who take biking trips tend to be young and affluent. About half are between the ages of 18 and 34 and one-fourth are from households with an annual income of $75,000 or more. More than 80% of biking travelers took a camping trip in the past five years and 72% took hiking trips in the past five years. (Source: Adventure Travel Report.)

Business travel volume fell to 210.5 million person-trips in 2003, a 2.0 percent decline from 2002. Overall, business travel comprises 18 percent of total U.S. domestic person-trips. Business person-trips are most often taken for general business purposes (likely for consulting, client service, etc) (44%). One in five (22%) business person-trips are taken for the primary purpose of attending a convention, conference or seminar. One-third (34%) of business person-trips are made by those traveling for combined business and pleasure purposes. One-third (32%) of business person-trips include air transportation. One in six (17%) business trips include multiple adults from the same household; 10 percent include children under 18. (Sources: Domestic Travel Market Report, 2004 Edition; Business and Convention Travelers, 2004 Edition)

Camping is the number one outdoor vacation activity in America. One third of U.S. adults say they have gone on a camping vacation in the past five years and only 6% of people who have gone camping said it was not for them. Camping vacationers tend to be married with children at home. The average age of travelers who go camping is 37 and their median household income is $43,000. People who go camping also tend to enjoy hiking, biking and canoeing. Fifty-nine percent of campers said they traveled with their spouses on their most recent outdoor vacation and nearly half traveled with their children. (Source: Adventure Travel Report.)

Canada and Mexico send more travelers to the U.S. than any other foreign nations. More than 80 percent of the international travelers who leave Mexico each year come to the United States, and nearly 60 percent of international travelers from Canada visit the U.S. In 2001, 59.6 million Canadians and 9.6 million Mexicans visited the U.S.

Children make great travel companions. One in four household trips in the U.S. (26%) include children under 18, or 170.1 million trips in total in 2003. Most (91%) trips with children are for leisure, nearly half of which are taken to visit friends or relatives. Four in ten (44%) overnight trips with children include a stay in a hotel, motel or bed and breakfast establishment. Popular activities on trips with children include shopping (32%), attending a social/family event (31%), engaging in an outdoor activity (14%), going to the beach (12%), and going to a theme/amusement park (12%). More than half (55%) of trips with children are taken by households headed by Baby Boomers (age 35-54). (Source: Domestic Travel Market Report, 2004 Edition.)

Choosing a destination after watching a movie or TV show.. Research from TIA shows that movies or TV shows have little effect on a traveler's choice of destination. Only four percent of all travelers in the past three years selected a vacation destination because of a movie or TV show they saw. This translates to 5.1 million U.S. adults. Just three percent of travelers did so in the past year. Travelers who choose a destination as the result of seeing a movie or a TV show are more likely than total U.S. travelers to be younger (37 years, average age) and have a higher household income ($81,000 average (mean) annual household income). They also tend to be married (64%), male (55%), completed college (39%), have children in the household (44%) and work in a professional or managerial occupation (32%).

Crimes against travelers occur 40 percent less often than crimes against non-travelers.

Cultural Events/Festivals are very popular among travelers. In fact, most (75%) U.S. adult travelers attended a cultural activity or event while on a trip in the past year. This translates to an estimated 109.8 million U.S. adults. Their households generated 97.7 million person-trips including a cultural event or festival in 2002. Examining the variety of cultural activities to do on trips shows that past-year travelers most often attend performing arts events (48%) and/or visit art museums or antique establishments (47%). (Source: The Historic/Cultural Traveler, 2003 Edition.)

Educational Travel: The learning aspect of travel is important to U.S. travelers, with about one-fifth —30.2 million adults— having taken an educational trip to learn or improve a skill, sport or hobby in the past three years. Eighteen percent of travelers in the past year said that taking such a trip was the main purpose of their travel. Overall, educational travelers are more likely than total U.S. travelers to be male (56%), younger (39 years, average age), a college graduate (49%), have a professional or managerial occupation (38%), have children in the household (51%), and have a higher annual household income ($75,000 average (mean) annual household income). They are less likely to be married.

Festivals and Fairs are popular ways for travelers to experience new and interesting cultures. Four in ten (41%) U.S. adult travelers attended a festival and/or fair during a trip in the past year. This translates to an estimated 59.5 million U.S. adults. Specifically, one in five (20%) past-year travelers (28.9 million adults) say they attended a heritage, ethnic, or folk festival or fair. About one third (31%) of past-year travelers (45.8 million adults) attended another type of festival or fair, such as a state or county fair or arts and crafts fair. (Source: The Historic/Cultural Traveler, 2003 Edition.)

Fitness While Traveling: More than one-fourth of U.S. travelers—24.7 million adults—tried to keep those extra pounds at bay by using a fitness center or gym while traveling in the past three years. These travelers are more likely than total U.S. travelers to be male (55%), younger (39 years, average age), a college graduate (56%), have a professional or managerial occupation (36%), have children in the household (55%) and have a higher annual household income ($87,000 average (mean) annual household income).

Gambling is a common activity on many American trips and is growing in popularity. Trips including gambling currently account for eight percent of all U.S. travel, generating 78.6 million person-trips in 2002. This represents 29 percent growth over 1994. Travelers who participate in gambling are more likely than U.S. travelers overall to travel by bus (7% vs. 2% of person-trips) and include a stay at a hotel, motel, or bed and breakfast establishment on overnight household trips (79% vs. 55%). Gaming travelers stay an average of 3.9 nights on their trip. Few (10%) household trips that include gambling have children on them. Gambling travelers are also more likely than average U.S. travelers to be older; the average age of the head of household is 51 vs. 47. Households that partake in gambling while traveling have, on average, an annual income of $62,100. (Sources:Domestic Travel Market Report, 2003 Edition; Profile of Travelers Who Participate in Gambling, 2000 Edition)

Garden Tours are popular with many travelers. Nearly 40 million Americans, or one-fifth of U.S. residents (20%) went on a garden tour, visited a botanical garden, attended a gardening show or festival, or participated in some other garden-related activity in the past five years. This translates to 39.3 million U.S. adults. Ten million U.S. adults (5% of U.S. adults, 7% of past year travelers) participated in a garden-related activity in the past year. College graduates (33%), travelers with an annual household income of $75,000 or more (33%), residents of the New England census region (31%), married travelers (28%) and travelers 55-64 years old (28%) are most likely to take in a garden-related activity while travelling. Nearly three-fourths of garden travelers (71%) visited a botanical garden in the past five years, making it the most popular garden activity. Thirty-six percent of garden travelers attended a gardening show or festival and 29 percent went on some type of garden tour. Another 16 percent participated in some other type of garden-related activity or tour. Click here for press release.

Geotourism: Are you a Geo-Savvy or an Urban Sophisticate? How about a Self-Indulgent or an Apathetic? A study from TIA, and sponsored by National Geographic Traveler, examines the travel habits and attitudes of the 55 million Americans now classified as sustainable or "Geotourists," as well as the nearly 100 million traveling Americans moving in that direction. The term geotourism is defined as tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of the place being visited—its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage, and the well-being of its residents. The Geotourism Study identified eight traveler segments or "profiles" from the 154 million Americans who have taken at least one trip in the past three years. For example, Geo-Savvys and Urban Sophisticates—dominated by Baby Boomers—show a distinct preference for culturally and socially-related travel. (Source: The Geotourism Study)

Golf and Tennis are popular travel activities in the U.S. One in eight U.S. travelers (12%) played golf while on a trip of 100 miles or more, one-way, away from home in the past year. This translates to 17.3 million U.S. adults. Six million U.S. adults (4% of past year travelers) played tennis while on a trip of 100 miles or more, one-way, away from home in the past year. Among these two groups, 2.7 million U.S. adults played both golf and tennis while traveling in the past year. This represents 16 percent of all golf travelers and 46 percent of all tennis travelers. Golfing travelers averaged 2.6 trips (mean) over the past year, with 10 percent golfing on six or more trips. Nearly one-half of golfing travelers did so on only one trip in the past year (46%). One-third went on either two or three golfing trips in the past year (34%). Sixteen percent of travelers who played golf said that golf was the most important reason for taking the trip. Over one-half of golfing travelers (55%) said that on their most recent golf trip, golfing was not a primary or secondary reason, but rather just an activity on the trip.

Hispanic travel volume is up 20 percent from 2000 to 2002 (increasing from 64.1 million to 77.1 million person-trips), much higher than the two percent growth of travelers overall. A majority of Hispanic person-trips are for leisure (77%), of which visiting friends or relatives is the ultimate goal for many (43%). Entertainment trips (16%) and outdoor recreation (8%) make up smaller shares of Hispanic person-trips. The states that attract the greatest number of Hispanic travelers include California, Texas and Florida. Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico are also popular destinations. Hispanic households spend an average of $480 on a trip, excluding spending on transportation to their destination. One third (33%) of trips by Hispanic households include children under 18 years old, significantly higher than for overall traveling households in the U.S. (24%). (Source: The Minority Traveler, 2003 Edition)

Historical Places/Museums are popular attractions for U.S. travelers taking trips within the U.S. A majority (58%) of U.S. adult travelers included an historic activity or event on a trip during the past year. This translates to an estimated 84.7 million U.S. adults. Their households generated 143.5 million person-trips including a visit to historical places or museums in 2002. In fact, 41 percent of past-year travelers say they visited a designated historic site such as a building, landmark, home, or monument (41%) during their trip. Three in ten (28%) visited a designated historic community or town. (Source: The Historic/Cultural Traveler, 2003 Edition.) Click here for press release.

Honeymooners outspend the average traveler by more than three times. On average, they spent $1,402, while the average trip expenditure in 1994 for all travelers was considerably less at $421.

Hotel/motel/b & b's are used for over half (55%) of overnight household trips in the U.S. This translates to 268.9 million overnight household trips including a hotel/motel or B&B stay. Hotel/motel/B&B trips are more likely than the average U.S. household trip to be taken for business reasons (40% vs. 18%). These household trips are also twice as likely as average household trips to be taken by air (32% vs. 20%). The average duration of a hotel/motel/B&B trip is 3.9 nights. One in five (21%) hotel/motel/B&B trips include children. (Source: Domestic Travel Market Report, 2004 Edition.)

The Internet and online services are very popular with travelers. Travelers tend to be quite computer savvy, with two thirds (65%) of the 98.3 million travelers who are online—63.8 million—using the Internet to make travel plans in 2004. Among online frequent travelers, 70 percent use the Internet for travel planning. Use of the Internet to actually book travel continues to increase, with 45 percent of all travelers now online having made travel reservations on the Internet during the past year. That translates to 44.6 million online travel bookers, up six percent over 2003. The majority (83%) of online bookers are using the Internet to do at least half of all their travel booking. The number of online bookers doing all of their travel booking online continues to grow, with 40 percent now doing so, versus 29 percent in 2003. Interestingly, 82 percent of online travel bookers say they bought airline tickets for a trip taken in the past year, 67 percent booked overnight lodging accommodations, and 40 percent made rental car reservations. (Source: Travelers Use of the Internet, 2004 Edition)

International travel to the United States is one of our leading exports. In 2001, 45.5 million international travelers visited the U.S., down 11 percent from 2000. The United Kingdom, Japan, and Brazil lead their respective regions in arrivals to the U.S. The UK was the top country for inbound travel to the U.S. in 2001, sending nearly 4.2 million visitors. Japan was in second place, with over 4 million arrivals. Brazil was the seventh ranked tourism generating country with 570,000 arrivals to the U.S. in 2001. Germany, France, South Korea, Venezuela, and Italy round out the top ten tourism generating countries to the U.S. Although arrivals from all markets declined in 2001, arrivals from India, Venezuela and Ireland declined the least, only one percent each. (Source: IVIS)

Kids programs are popular with family travelers. Nearly 60% of family travelers use children's services offered on the road but special kids meals (41%) and hotel discounts (30%) are the most popular children's services followed by video and other games (22%), supervised activities (13%) and baby-sitting (6%). Among travelers taking children along, those aged 35-44 had the highest use of children's services (71%), while travelers aged 65+ had the lowest use (28%). Travelers with family incomes of $50,000+ have the highest use (67%), while travelers with family incomes of <$20,000 have the lowest use (30%).

Life Stage: Unique travel characteristics of households by their life stage are examined. There are life 11 stage segments that not only include life stages, but also relates these stages roughly to the travelers' generation cohorts: Generation X/Generation Y (Young), Baby Boomers (Middle), and Empty Nesters and Seniors (Older). Among the 11 stages, the largest share of trips (23%) are taken by Middle Parent households. (Source: Travel Through the Life Stages, 2002 Edition)

Married folks are travelers. Married households represent the largest group of travelers with 62 percent of all trips being taken by married households. Single, never married households took 22 percent of the trips. (Source: Domestic Travel Market Report, 2004 Edition.)

Mature household trips (taken by households headed by someone aged 55 or older) last the longest across the generation groups (an average of 4.8 nights, excluding day trips), with 16 percent lasting seven or more nights away. Conversely, this group also has a higher share of day trips (26%). Even when including day trips in the average, mature travelers continue to rank first over other age groups with 3.5 nights average trip duration. Over half (53%) of mature traveling households stay in a hotel/motel/B&B on their trip, and four in ten (41%) stay at the homes of friends or relatives. Mature household trips are the most likely of all generation groups to be generated by multiple adults traveling without children under 18 (47%). Their growing numbers coupled with their financial power and availability of time, make them a very attractive market for the U.S. travel industry. (Source:Domestic Travel Market Report, 2004 Edition, The Mature Traveler, 2000 Edition.)

Minority Travel While traveling, Hispanic, African-American, and Asian-American households mirror U.S. traveling households overall on many key trip and demographic characteristics, some characteristics do vary significantly by minority group. Nevertheless, like U.S. travel in general, majorities of person-trips taken by Hispanics, African-Americans, and Asian-Americans are for leisure purposes and by owned car or truck. For all groups, hotels, motels, or bed and breakfast establishments are the most common form of lodging, as among all U.S. travel. Summer is the most popular season of travel and shopping is the top activity, regardless of race or ethnicity. (Source: The Minority Traveler, 2003 Edition)

National/State Park Travel American travelers love the great outdoors as evidenced by the 40 percent of all U.S. adults in 2003 who have visited a national park at least once while on a trip of 50 miles or more, one-way, away from home in the past five years. In 2002 alone, U.S. traveling households generated 87 million leisure person-trips including national or state parks. A study from TIA, and sponsored by Delaware North Companies provides a profile of U.S. trips that include a visit to national/state parks and highlights details of the most recent trip taken by national park travelers. Also examined are travelers' awareness of U.S. National Park areas and their attitudes about national park travel. Not surprisingly, most travelers who visit national parks are highly satisfied with their park experience. (Source: The National Parks Traveler, 2004 Edition).

Online travel services are very popular with travelers. Travelers tend to be quite computer savvy, with two thirds (65%) of the 98.3 million travelers who are online-63.8 million-using the Internet to make travel plans in 2004. Among online frequent travelers, 70 percent use the Internet for travel planning. Use of the Internet to actually book travel continues to increase, with 45 percent of all travelers now online having made travel reservations on the Internet during the past year. That translates to 44.6 million online travel bookers, up six percent over 2003. The majority (83%) of online bookers are using the Internet to do at least half of all their travel booking. The number of online bookers doing all of their travel booking online continues to grow, with 40 percent now doing so, versus 29 percent in 2003. Interestingly, 82 percent of online travel bookers say they bought airline tickets for a trip taken in the past year, 67 percent booked overnight lodging accommodations, and 40 percent made rental car reservations. (Source: Travelers Use of the Internet, 2004 Edition)

Online leisure travel planners, or E-travel consumers, tend to be heavy travelers who use the Internet about 16 hours per week. A majority (66%) do more than half of all trip planning online. What types of leisure trips are planned online? These trips are often for entertainment/vacation purposes (37%) or to visit friends and relatives (34%). Many trips planned online are taken by car (46%) or by air (41%). Over half (59%) of these trips include a hotel/motel/B&B stay. The most popular elements of online trip planning are searching for maps/driving directions (60%), searching for lodging (53%), searching for things to do at the destination (45%), and searching for airfares/schedules (41%). Six in ten online planners also have booked travel online at least once in the past year. Those who book leisure travel on the Internet spend an average of $2,146 per year online for travel products and services. (Source: E-Travel Consumers: How They Plan and Book Leisure Travel Online)

Outdoor recreation and/or visiting national or state parks is one of the top activities for U.S. travelers taking leisure trips within the U.S. One in four (23%) leisure person-trips includes some form of outdoor recreation and/or a visit to a national or state park. Outdoor trips are also likely to be taken by car (76%) and one in six (17%) outdoor trips includes camping in an RV or tent. (Source: Domestic Travel Market Report, 2003 Edition)

Pet Travel: Fluffy and Fido are popular travel companions, with 14 percent of all U.S. adults (29.1 million) saying they have traveled with a pet on a trip of 50 miles or more, one-way, away from home in the past three years. Dogs are the most common type of pet to take along (78%). Cats came in a distant second with 15 percent of travelers taking their feline friend along. A few report traveling with birds (2%) and either a ferret, rabbit, or fish (3%). The percentage of households traveling with their pets most likely increases during the summer when more families travel on vacation. Auto or truck is the primary mode of transportation (76%), followed by RV (10%) and airline (6%). While travelers with pets most often stay with friends/relatives (32%), an almost equal number stay in a hotel or motel (29%).

Package Travel: One quarter (23%) of past-year travelers (33.3 million adults) say they bought a travel package within the past three years—that is, a trip including at least transportation and a place to stay all in one price. The average age of a package traveler is 43 years and the gender breakout is almost even (47% men, 53% women). A majority (68%) of these travelers are married; 24% are single, never married. Half (51%) have children in their household. Four in ten (43%) have a college degree or more education. The average annual household income of a package traveler is $72,400.

Parents and Grandparents are popular travel companions for adult travelers who take outdoor vacations such as camping, hiking and biking. Twenty two percent travelers between 18 and 34 took their parents and/or grandparents on their most recent soft adventure vacation. (Source: Adventure Travel Report.)

Religious services are often an important part of any travel experience. One-fourth (28%) of adult travelers in the U.S. went to a church, temple, mosque or other place of worship to attend a regularly scheduled religious service while on a trip of 100 miles or more, one-way, in the past year. This equates to nearly 43 million U.S. adults Residents of the West South Central region (Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas) reported the highest attendance while traveling (37%). Residents in New England (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont) registered the lowest (21%). Among those who attended a religious service during a trip, one-half of them were on trips to visit friends and relatives (50%) and one-fourth traveled for other leisure reasons (23%). Nine percent traveled for business reasons and 18 percent traveled for other reasons. One-half of travelers (51%) who attended a religious service had their spouse with them on their most recent trip and over one-third had children with them (34% own children/4% grandchildren).

Romantic Travel: More than 42 million Americans say they have taken at least one trip in the past year to attend a wedding, go on a honeymoon, or celebrate an anniversary. This equates to 20 percent of all U.S. adults traveling for romance-related purposes in the past year. Romance-related travel is most popular among Baby Boomers, as four in ten (41%) romance travelers are age 35-54. One-third (33%) of these travelers are Generation X and Y travelers between the ages of 18 and 34. Not surprisingly, the majority of romance-related travelers are married (67%). Many of these travelers (38%) have above-average annual household incomes of $50,000 or more. In addition, the Travel Poll showed that people living in the South (35%) are more likely than those living in the West (24%), Midwest (26%), and Northeast (15%) to have taken such romance-related trips in the past year. Click here for press release.

School is very important, however, one out of five parents who took a trip in the past year let their children miss school to be a part of their travel experience (22%). This represents nearly 16 million adults who took their child or children out of school to take a trip in the past year. Parents who have studied for or attained a masters degree are more likely to let their children miss school to travel. Three out of ten traveling parents who took a child out of school in the past year have a postgraduate education (30%) compared to only 11 percent of travelling parents who kept their children home. In addition, one-third of households in which the child missed school to travel earn household incomes of $75,000 or more (33%). Two-thirds of the travelers who have taken kids out of school have a head of household in the prime child-rearing years, that is, 66 percent are 35 to 54 years old. Pure fun or entertainment prompted nearly one-half of the traveling parents to include a child in a trip in the past year. This includes 20 percent who traveled to sightsee or for entertainment, plus 27 percent who traveled for other leisure purposes. Only 6 percent of traveling parents cited business reasons.

Shopping continues to be the most popular trip activity for U.S. adult travelers. About 91 million people, or 63 percent of adult travelers in 2000, included shopping as an activity on a trip. Because people can go shopping on more than one trip away from home, TIA estimates that 34 percent of all person-trips or over 345 million U.S. person-trips include shopping. Shoppers are almost as likely to stay at a hotel, motel, or bed and breakfast establishment (49% of person-trips) as they are with friends or relatives (48%). Overnight shopping trips average 4.8 nights and they spend, on average, $563, excluding the cost of transportation to their destination. Most (81%) shopping travelers say that their most recent trip that included shopping was for leisure purposes. A majority (59%) of shopping travelers obtained information about shopping areas from friends, family or co-workers. Hotels were another popular source with travelers (in-room maps, brochures, a TV or the hotel concierge) (25%). The most popular place to shop on trips is traditional enclosed shopping centers or malls (62%). Shopping travelers are likely to be Baby Boomers and have higher-than-average household incomes (Source: Domestic Travel Market Report, 2003 Edition and The Shopping Traveler)

Solo Vacationing...Exploring a destination on your own at your own pace appeals to many Americans. Nearly one-quarter of U.S. travelers, or 34.8 million U.S. adults, have taken a vacation by themselves in the past three years. These travelers are less likely than total U.S. travelers to be married and to have children in their household. The solo vacationer is 42 years of age with an average annual household income of $54,000. More than one-quarter (26%) have a professional or managerial occupation, 53% are male, 47% female and 38% have completed college.

Sports and Travel go together. Two out of five U.S. adults (38%) attended an organized sports event, competition or tournament as either a spectator or as a participant while traveling in the past five years. This equates to 75.3 million U.S. adults. A majority of these sports event travelers took their most recent sports trip in the past year (70% or 52.7 million adults). The most popular organized sports event to watch or participate in while traveling is baseball or softball, with 17 percent of U.S. adults traveling 50 miles or more to see or play in a baseball or softball game in the past five years. This is followed by football (15%), basketball (9%) and auto/truck racing (8%). (Source: Profile of Travelers Who Attend Sports Events.)

Staying wired while traveling is important to business and pleasure travelers. In 2002, seven in ten (69%) of the 36.9 million business travelers say they brought along a cellular phone on a past-year business trip. One in four (25%) brought a laptop computer. Some (16%) brought a handheld personal digital assistant and/or a pager (13%) on at least one business trip. Pleasure travelers are only slightly less likely than business travelers to want to stay connected while away from home. Six in ten (61%) carried a cellular phone. Some brought a laptop computer (9%), a pager (9%), and/or a handheld personal digital assistant (5%). The increased usage of the Internet and the popularity of e-mail as a form of communication is evident among many travelers, as 42 percent of business travelers used the Internet or e-mail while on a business or convention trip in the past year, compared to 22 percent of pleasure travelers. (Source: Travelers' Use of the Internet, 2002 Edition)

Tax refunds: One in five (19%) U.S. adults who are getting a federal, state, or local tax refund this year plan to use some or all of it to take a pleasure or vacation trip. This translates into 20.9 million U.S. adults. Generation Y or X'ers (18-34 years) and Mature travelers (55+) are most likely to use some or all of their refund on travel. Twenty-five percent say they will use most or all of their refund on travel while another 25 percent say one-half of the refund would go towards a pleasure trip. On average, tax refund travelers plan to spend $794 of their refund on a pleasure trip. Married travelers ($947) and travelers with children under 18 in their household ($914) plan to spend more than non-married travelers ($696) or travelers without children ($683).

Theme/Amusement Park Travel: One in ten (9%) person-trips includes a visit to a theme or amusement park, equating to over 92 million person-trips taken in the U.S. in 2002. Households visiting a "theme park" spend an average of $845 per trip, excluding transportation to their destination. On average, overnight theme park trips last 5.3 nights. Two-thirds (67%) of theme park traveling households stay in a hotel, motel, or bed and breakfast establishment on overnight trips. Theme park trips are most likely to include shopping as a complementary activity (40% of person-trips). As expected, a large share (55%) of household trips involving a visit to a theme park include children under age 18.  (Source: Domestic Travel Market Report, 2003 Edition.)

Travel as a Gift…Americans like to help others experience the joy of travel with 16% of travelers giving a trip or part of a trip as a gift in the past three years. This translates to 22.6 million U.S. adults. These travelers are more likely than total U.S. travelers to be a college graduate (49%), have a professional or managerial occupation (33%) and have a higher annual household income ($86,000). They are less likely to have children in their household (39%). The average travel gift-giver is 45 years of age and 68% are married.

Travel Information comes from a variety of sources, but friends and relatives are the number one source for information about places to visit or about flights, hotels or rental cars (43%). Travel agents are the second most popular source of travel information (39%) and travel companies such as airlines, hotels or rental car companies were third (32%). One in five past year travelers (21%) contacted a city, state or country's tourism office to get information about a destination that they planned to visit or about flights, hotels or other travel services in the past five years. This equates to 33 million U.S. adult travelers. Contacts with travel agents, tourism offices and travel companies include visits to the web sites of these organizations. In total, 19 percent of travelers visited a web site to obtain travel information in the past five years.

Travel Agent Usage: In 2002, 26 percent of Americans, or 54 million adults, say they have used a travel agent to book at least one business, pleasure, or personal trip, flight, hotel room, rental car, or tour in the past three years. With more and more Americans using the Internet to book travel, it is not surprising that this figure is down from 32 percent in October 1999. Four in ten (43%) travel agent users are Baby Boomer travelers, age 35 to 54 and one-third (33%) are Generation X and Y travelers, age 18 to 34. Travelers booking through travel agents are different from all U.S. past-year travelers in a few ways. This group is more likely than overall past-year travelers to be male (55% vs. 49%), have some post-graduate education (16% vs. 11%), and have an annual household income of $50,000 or more (52% vs. 41%).

Travel-Related Taxes account for a significant portion of most travel purchases. Travelers spend more than $70 billion a year in state, local and federal taxes and 90% of travelers say they are aware of the taxes they are paying. In particular, three-quarters of past year travelers (75%) recalled paying a restaurant meal tax in the past year while on a trip. Other highly-recalled taxes included gasoline tax (73%), hotel tax (62%) and highway tolls (45%). Half of travelers favor using travel tax money for the general fund of the local community (50%). About one-half of travelers also favor using this tax money to benefit the travelers to that area, such as in setting up 800 numbers so visitors can get tourist information (47%).

Vacation leave is often used for travel. Over one-fourth of employed travelers (28%) use all of their vacation time traveling to points at least 100 miles from their home, and two-thirds of employed travelers (65%) spend at least one-half of their vacation time traveling. On average, employed travelers spent 56% of their 1997 vacations traveling. If weekends are excluded, this translates to travelers spending about 8 days out of 14 vacation days on the road.

Weekend travel is more popular than ever, with half of all U.S. adults--nearly 103 million--taking at least one weekend trip per year. Almost 30 percent of Americans have taken five or more weekend trips in the past year and 35 percent of all weekend travelers say they've taken their children with them on at least one weekend trip. Compared to five years ago, day trips and weekend trips appear to be more popular today than trips lasting about one week or longer. In fact, forty percent of weekend travelers report they are taking more day trips and/or weekend trips (38%) today than five years ago. Interest in longer trips lasting more than one week seems to be declining—43 percent of weekend travelers claim they are taking fewer long trips than they did five years ago. Most weekend travelers (42%) make last-minute plans and select their destination within two weeks of their trip. Thirty percent of weekend travelers say they took advantage of discounts, coupons, or special offers while planning or while on their most recent weekend trip. Visiting cities (33%) and small towns (26%) are favored destinations for weekend travelers, followed by beaches (16%), mountain areas (10%), lake areas (4%), state or national parks (3%) and theme or amusement parks (3%).