Fall might be more important to the travel industry in 2011 than it has in recent years. The International Air Transport Association has revised its earnings outlook for global airlines this year. While the forecast was increased to $6.9 billion, which is up from the $4 billion estimate in June, it is still a far cry from the $16 billion global airlines the air industry earned in 2010.
Of course, fall has a few events that could encourage more travel despite a sluggish economy. The annual changing of the leaves is a tourist attraction throughout America. Fall foliage tours can be big business in rural areas, and travelers looking for deals might choose to take a road trip if they missed that summer vacation. Fall can feature off-season rates, which can save travelers a little bit of cash as opposed to the busy summer season. Cheaper rates and additional options could draw more travelers from across the country.
One state in particular is looking to revamp their image for foliage tours. Vermont was hit hard by Tropical Storm Irene, but now most routes and foliage paths have been cleared. In 2009, foliage and ski season generated $829 million in visitor spending for Vermont. Especially in the wake of Irene, some visitor dollars could go a long way in helping to revive the area.
Another major event in the fall is Halloween, which has become a popular time to travel. In addition to great Halloween events at Walt Disney World, Sea World Parks, Busch Gardens in Tampa, and Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights, the scare fest of Halloween inspires many local October Fall festivals and apple festivals. Parents will have to perform a bit of research in order to determine what events are age appropriate for their children, because not all the activities are family friendly.
Many of the events at theme parks have grown by leaps and bounds over the past decade as travelers often shell out extra-admission fees to experience a different take on Halloween. Those extra dollars keep the theme parks churning out haunted mazes and zombies every year, and the events only get bigger and more interactive.
While the airlines have been hard by the state of the economy, Halloween and traditional fall destinations could help scare up some extra revenue for hotels, airlines, theme parks, and local attractions. Besides, fall can be one of the most rewarding times to travel as facilities try to salvage what revenue they can before the end of the year.
Jason Gallagher is a former travel professional with a decade of experience in the industry. He remains an avid traveler and hotel fan with exposure to technology and trends in properties across the United States.
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