Survey finds us in mood to get away

MIAMI BEACH, FLA. (AP) -- American travelers are planning to spend more next year, take to the air more often and visit both international and domestic destinations, according to a new survey from American Express.
On long vacations, travelers surveyed said they planned to spend an average of $2,962 on airfare, accommodations and other vacation expenses in 2004 -- $799 more than in 2003. In addition, the number of travelers planning to spend more than $5,000 on long vacations in 2004 nearly doubled, to about 11 percent of those surveyed.
Still, the vast majority of travelers across all income groups, called themselves "value-minded."
Air travel
The survey also predicts a jump in air travel -- 55 percent of those surveyed said they were planning a domestic or international flight, compared to 44 percent in 2002. More than three-quarters of airline travelers said they are attracted to discount airlines, such as JetBlue, Southwest and Song.
More immediately, the survey reports that more than a quarter of Americans plan to travel before the new year, particularly during holidays. A survey of American Express travel agents reported that they expect Honolulu, Orlando, New York City, Las Vegas and Miami to be the top U.S. destinations for the rest of the year.
Hawaii also tops the list of U.S. destinations in 2004. Next year, agents said they expect Hawaii, Alaska, Las Vegas, New York City and Orlando to be the top destinations of 2004.
Cynthia Valles, senior vice president in the Consumer Travel Network at American Express, said cities' efforts at family-focused programs have become crucial to attracting tourists. Many people are planning trips far from home for the first time since the 2001 terrorist attacks, Valles said, and are increasingly interested in traveling with their family.
"The events over the past several years have a profound effect on traveling," she said at the American Society of Travel Agents' World Travel Congress in Miami Beach.
International destinations
The survey shows that more people are thinking about traveling internationally. American Express travel agents predicted the top destinations for in this category in 2004 will be Rome, Cancun, London, Athens and Paris.
Though 45 percent of travelers said they use the Internet to plan trips, the majority of travelers still prefer to book their trips over the phone or through an agent, the survey showed.
Some credit the state of the economy for the anticipated jump in the travel industry.
"It appears that consumer confidence is a little stronger," said Rocco Laterzo, a senior vice president at Establishment Services at American Express.
XThe American Express Leisure Travel Index was based on a telephone poll of 1,356 adults nationwide conducted between Sept. 23-29. The margin of error was plus or minus 4 percentage points.