Optimism about travel surpasses pre-recession levels, survey says

The level of optimism among Americans about traveling has risen beyond pre-recession levels, according to a new survey of 2,300 travelers.

The so-called Travel Sentiment Index may help predict how much Americans plan to travel for vacation this summer, according to the survey by the marketing services firm MMGY Global.

The survey asked travelers their attitude about travel, the affordability of travel, finances available for travel and the safety of travel, among other factors. For the first time in February, the score (100.8) passed the benchmark pre-recession score of 100 in March 2007.

The survey found that among travelers, factors that influenced travel, such as high fuel costs, high levels of personal debt and the price of air travel, declined in February, compared to the same month in 2012.

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