Memorial Day is considered by many to be the unofficial beginning of the summer driving season. That wasn’t what it started out as when in 1868, May 30 was first proclaimed Decoration Day. Its observance was marked by the placement of flowers on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.
After World War I, it became a time for honoring the memory of all who had fallen in American wars, not just those who lost their lives in the Civil War. In 1971, Congress passed the National Holiday Act which moved the day to the last Monday in May, rather than the date of May 30.
Though the number of formal observances to remember those who gave their lives for America’s freedom has diminished, public interest and appreciation of our military remains high. The highlight of the Memorial Day weekend for many people, however, has become time spent at picnics, family gatherings, and myriad recreational and sporting activities.
Probably the most well known competition that occurs this weekend is the 500-mile race that takes place at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Fans of racing will be present or tuned in via television to watch the 90th running of the Indy 500. (The first race was held in 1911, but there were none in 1917-1918 or 1942-1945 because of war.)
While the Speedway’s two-and-a-half mile oval will be the focus of attention for thousands, many more will be spending time on the open road taking advantage of the long weekend or making preparations for later summer vacations.
Although high gasoline prices will present a formidable challenge to some motorists, thereby dampening the tourism season, the Travel Industry Association of America predicts that leisure trips (at least 50 miles) will still climb from around 322.9 million last year to 325.6 million this year.
Still, the MapQuest Summer Survey indicates that high gasoline prices will cause seven out of every ten families planning road trips this summer to give some consideration to limiting their duration. About 10% say they are planning on canceling their plans altogether. Even so, nearly half of Americans (49%) are determined not to be denied their summer excursions regardless the cost of fuel. Another 25% are examining various options.
AAA estimates travel this weekend will likely be up some 0.9% over last Memorial Day. That translates to around 37.6 million Americans—84% of them on the road.
Normally, approximately 12% of Americans travel over the Memorial Day weekend, which is nearly the same as the percentage of Labor Day travelers. Independence Day weekend usually induces some 17% of Americans to take trips. The number one summer month for travel is August (29%) followed by July (27%) and June (24%).
Of the changes in vacation patterns to be noted this year, the most significant relates to their length. The average summer trip this year will be around six days, compared to eight in 2002. In addition, less-expensive accommodations and lower-priced restaurants are on the menu for many families. Reservations for campgrounds are already up some 20% for June, July, and August.
To combat motorists’ indecision and encourage more travel, numerous major tourist destinations (as well as resorts, restaurants, and hotels) are offering incentives that vary from price reductions to free gasoline.
In many cases, vacations by motor vehicle will be replaced with travel on airplanes or cruise ships, as both industries are expecting growth this summer. International flights have already climbed significantly above last year. The weaker dollar is even encouraging greater numbers of foreigners to visit the US over the next few months.
Of the preferred destinations this weekend, cities will be the top choice for about 23% of the travelers, followed closely by small towns and rural areas at 22%. Other popular destinations include the ocean/beach, 16%; lakes, 13%; mountain areas, 8%; theme/amusement parks, 6%; and state/national parks, 1%.
Americans love their traditions, and traveling on Memorial Day weekend is one that is hard to give up regardless of cost increases. Vacations can be good for you and, of course, tourism is certainly beneficial to the Texas and US economies.
So, as they will be saying at the Indy 500 this weekend, ladies and gentlemen, “Start your engines!”