AAA: 43 Million To Travel For Memorial Day Weekend, Florida Top Destination
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| AAA projects 43.8 million travelers will head 50 miles or more from home over the Memorial Day holiday travel period |
ORLANDO, Florida - AAA projects 43.8 million travelers will head 50 miles or more from home over the Memorial Day holiday travel period and that Orlando, Miami, and Fort Lauderdale, are among AAA's survey's top 10 destinations.
This year’s total number of travelers is a 4% increase over last year and comes close to matching 2005’s record of 44 million Memorial Day travelers.
“We haven’t seen Memorial Day weekend travel numbers like these in almost 20 years,” said Paula Twidale, Senior Vice President of AAA Travel.
“We’re projecting an additional one million travelers this holiday weekend compared to 2019, which not only means we’re exceeding pre-pandemic levels but also signals a very busy summer travel season ahead.”
AAA says that travelers are seeking theme parks and entertainment venues in Orlando and that Florida's beaches and cruise ports will also be packed.
RECORD BREAKING MEMORIAL DAY TRAVEL ROAD TRIPS
Road trips are expected to set a record. AAA projects 38.4 million people will travel by car over Memorial Day weekend, the highest number for that holiday since AAA began tracking in 2000.
The number of drivers this year is up 4% compared to last year and 1.9% higher than in 2019.
CROWDED AIRPORTS DURING MEMORIAL DAY HOLIDAY
Airports are bracing for a spike in travelers. AAA expects 3.51 million air travelers this holiday weekend, an increase of 4.8% over last year and 9% jump compared to 2019.
AAA says that this will be the most crowded Memorial Day weekend at airports since 2005, when 3.64 million flew for the holiday as the travel industry finally rebounded post 9/11.
When Is Memorial Day 2024?
In 2024, Memorial Day falls on Monday, May 27.
Is Memorial Day A Federal Holiday?
Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States for honoring and mourning the military personnel who have died while serving. The federal holiday is observed on the last Monday of May.
The first national observance of Memorial Day occurred on May 30, 1868 to honor the Union soldiers who had died in the Civil War.
Memorial Day continued to be observed on May 30th until 1971 when Congress changed the observance to the last Monday in May.
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