State Ranks No. 2 on Tourist Wish Lists

With joblessness and gasoline prices at historic lows and the stock market surging, confident Americans will take to the roads and skies in record numbers this summer, travel industry groups predicted Thursday.

That’s good economic news for California, still a top tourist destination, despite losing some market share in recent years.

Indeed, the state is second only to Florida on Americans’ wish lists of places to visit this summer, according to an annual vacation survey by the Travel Industry Assn.

Until 1995, California was ranked No. 1 as a vacation destination by 30% or more of Americans in the surveys. The state’s rating dipped to 28% in 1996 and ’97 before edging back up to 30% this year, the travel group said. Florida was No. 1 at 36%, also up 2 percentage points.

Officials at the Los Angeles Convention and Business Bureau predict 2% more visitors will arrive this year.

“We’ve had a steady increase lately, and we’re looking for more modest growth,” spokeswoman Carol Martinez said.

She cited Disneyland’s make-over of Tomorrowland as a strong regional draw. “And the opening of the Getty Center has called attention to the many cultural offerings of Los Angeles,” Martinez said.

Association president William Norman said that last year at this time, people were still “looking over their shoulders, not sure the great economy could last.” The vacation season last summer turned out to be better than expected because people decided at the last minute to travel.

The survey found that 51% of vacationers plan to take along children this year, up from 43% last summer. The favorite destinations and activities listed by travelers with families were lakes and beaches (82%); camping, hiking and climbing (51%); fishing (50%); and theme parks (47%).

“With families out in record numbers and people wanting to go to the beach but also near other attractions, California and all its diversities, not surprisingly, is very high on the list,” Norman said.

“What’s remarkable,” Norman said, “is that so many more individuals than in the past are saying: ‘The economy is robust, my own personal situation is good, I think it’s going to stay that way, and I deserve a great vacation. I’ve earned it.’ ”

His group predicted that U.S. travelers will take a record 251 million vacation trips this summer, up 3% from 244 million last year.

Historically low gasoline prices this summer also should provide further incentive for people to hit the road, observers said.

On average, gasoline should cost about a dime a gallon less than last summer, the Energy Department reported.

This month, the price of regular self-serve unleaded gas averaged $1.10 a gallon nationwide, 15 cents less than a year ago, AAA said.

AAA spokesman Mike Morrisey predicted prices will remain well below last summer’s peak of $1.29 per gallon, thanks to crude oil prices.

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Reuters news service contributed to this report.