Downturn won’t curb travel, survey finds

The slumping economy is putting a crimp in a lot of things, but it doesn’t look like it will stop holiday trips to Grandma’s house.

Indeed, most Americans who responded to an online survey for the Travel Industry Assn. said that in spite of the economic downturn, they planned to keep their holiday travel plans so they could maintain tradition with family and friends.

“Even though there are many apparent reasons to stay home this year, Americans really value travel and will stick to it as much as they can,” said Suzanne Cook, senior vice president of research at the association, a Washington-based trade organization that represents the $740-billion U.S. travel industry.

“Most people traveling during the holidays feel the time and money they spend is a small price to pay to be with the people they love,” Cook said Tuesday.

The industry association based its conclusions on an online survey of 2,256 people last week by Harris Interactive, a Rochester, N.Y.-based market research firm.

Holiday travel costs are up 25% to 30% from last year, said Drew Patterson, vice president of marketing for Kayak.com, a leading travel search engine.

Still, 73% of people surveyed said they would continue with travel plans this holiday season, according to an October survey by Kayak.com.

But travelers are looking for ways to save, including booking flights with longer layovers, planning shorter trips and staying with relatives or friends instead of in a hotel.

Falling gasoline prices may also stimulate more driving this holiday season.

“Now that gas prices are down, that certainly gives people a lot more options,” said Marie Montgomery, spokeswoman for AAA. “Maybe they can go a little farther, maybe they can spend another day.”

Gas prices in Los Angeles fell nearly 30 cents last week to their lowest levels of the year, according to watch.

The average price of gasoline in Southern California was $2.57 a gallon Tuesday -- 88 cents less than the October average and $2.02 less than the record average high of $4.59 set in July.

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catherine.ho@latimes.com