Millions head ho,ho,home for the holidays

TOPEKA – The year-end holiday blitz is about to commence. 94.5 million travelers, nationally, will venture at least 50 miles from home over the year-end holiday period, nearly three out of every 10 Americans. However, in the West North Central Region, of which Kansas is a part, nearly four out of every ten are traveling. That’s almost 8 million Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, the Dakotas and Minnesota travelers.
The American Automobile Association’s national year-end holiday travel forecast represents a slight increase, 0.6 percent, compared to 2012. However for this region, the West North Central, the increase is 1.1 percent, according to travel source AAA. Year-end travel is expected to increase for the fifth consecutive year.
Covering both the Christmas and New Year holidays, the year-end holiday travel period is by far the longest, least volatile holiday period of the year. It includes trips between Saturday, Dec. 21 and Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2014.
“The year-end travel period is a day longer this year, which is the only reason for the increase in travel,” said James Hanni, Kansas region AAA Allied Group spokesman. “The modest upswing in travel we’re expecting to see can be attributed to this. It is the calendar effect.
“It’s great to see such a large share – almost 38 percent – of the population planning to take a trip over the final two holidays of the year,” Hanni said. “For travelers and the travel industry alike, it truly is the most wonderful time of the year.”

As a travel resource, AAA has made available a variety of mobile travel tools. This includes AAA Mobile, a free app for Smartphone users. The app uses GPS navigation to help travelers map a route, locate nearby discounts, summon roadside assistance, find current gas prices and more. Travelers can learn more about this resource at www.aaa.com/mobile.
Research for year-end travel projections are derived from IHS Global Insight. AAA has been reporting on holiday travel trends for more than two decades.