Gallup depends on them
Projections good for Memorial Day travel

Tourist Jurgen Hechler takes photos of kachinas in the window of Richardson’s Trading Company in downtown Gallup Thursday. Hechler and his companions came from Hamburg, Germany, and stopped in Gallup while on a tour of national parks in the Southwest. — © 2009 Gallup Independent / Cable Hoover

Copyright © 2009
Gallup Independent
By Leslie Wood
For the Independent

GALLUP — The American Automobile Association expects the Mountain region states, which include New Mexico, to see an increase in travel over the Memorial Day holiday weekend despite the weak economy.

The optimistic forecast is in part due to gas prices that are down an average of $1.40 per gallon from last year’s fuel costs.

Gallup officials hope the projections hold true and the area sees an influx in tourism during the upcoming holiday.

Lee, the director of Gallup’s chamber of commerce, said Gallup’s tourism season begins during the Memorial Day holiday, once graduation season has passed and residents are more free to travel. The season typically spans the summer months and ends during the Labor Day holiday.

Lee said he is pleased to hear the projections, but would be content if Gallup maintained the number of tourists who visited last year.

“We really didn’t lose much ground last year,” Lee said. “... Certainly, the lower gas prices aren’t going to hurt us.”

Because of the economy, the state department of tourism has focused its campaign to attract tourists from New Mexico, since out-of-state residents are less likely to afford a trip to the Land of Enchantment. Lee said local officials have adopted a similar “enjoy what’s in your own back yard” approach and hope to appeal to New Mexicans who live within a 40-mile radius of Gallup.

He said events such as the Lion’s Club Rodeo, Inter-tribal Ceremonial, Gallup Balloon Rally and nightly summer Native American dances are geared toward this crowd, although the events are also promoted out of state.

“Most of the data suggests folks will be staying closer to home, but we’re always hopeful,” Lee said.

International visitors

Lee said international travel to Gallup, however, will improve from last year’s numbers. Fewer tourists from Germany were reported last year, but numbers are promising in 2009. More visitors from Asia and Canada are also expected.

German tourists are coming again also.

“It looks like they’re starting to return,” Lee said of German tourists. “ ... They really have a strong affinity for the culture here.”

Rolf Pekmann, of Hanover, Germany, traveled to Gallup with two other people as part of a tour of the Southwest. For the past month, the trio has visited hot spots such as Las Vegas, Flagstaff, Kingman and Gallup.

The group said they spent Friday morning in downtown Gallup and most enjoyed the murals.

Tourism in Gallup once revolved solely around Native American arts and crafts; however, tourism has been diversified to include the area’s “fantastic” trail systems, Lee said. Similar trails are also under construction in McGaffey.

Lee said Gallup is the perfect destination for New Mexico residents and out-of-state visitors.

“There’s plenty to do and see here,” he said.

AAA analysis

AAA forecasts nearly 2.7 million of the 21.8 million in the region will travel over the Memorial Day weekend. This year it is estimated that of the travelers from the Mountain states, including Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming, nearly 2.2 million will drive; about 300,000 will travel by air; and 200,000 will take a bus or train.

While the economy remains in a recession, nationally Americans traveling on vacation this Memorial Day holiday weekend will increase 1.5 percent from 2008. It is estimated that approximately 32.4 million travelers plan on taking a trip of 50 or more miles away from home. Last year, 31.9 million Americans traveled during the same period, a dramatic decline from the 35.3 million travelers who vacationed in 2007.

This summer AAA does not expect the price of gasoline to average more than $2.50 per gallon. The current nationwide average price of self-serve regular is $2.25. In New Mexico, a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline is averaging $2.26.

“Despite the recent increases, gas prices are substantially lower by nearly $1.40 per gallon what they were a year ago and as people begin considering their travel plans for Memorial Day they should take that into consideration,” said AAA New Mexico spokesman Dan Ronan.

Trips by auto will be most Americans’ choice mode of travel with 27 million people — or nearly 83 percent of all travelers — planning a road trip. This is an increase from last Memorial Day when 26.3 million travelers paid among the highest fuel prices on record to travel by motor vehicle.

In contrast to trips by personal vehicle, trips by air will decline by 1 percent nationwide. Approximately 2.1 million Americans will travel by air over the holiday weekend. This is 7 percent of total travelers. Trips by other modes, including rail, buses and watercraft, will be used by an estimated 3.3 million Americans, or 10 percent of all travelers.

Spending up, distances about the same

The average distance traveled by Americans this Memorial Day holiday weekend will be approximately 620 miles, AAA reported. This is a slight decrease from 2008 when the average distance traveled was 640 miles. Spending also will increase from an average of $859 last year to $1,052 this year. It is estimated Mountain region citizens will spend an average of $1,127 per family this weekend. Nearly 60 percent of Americans will spend time with friends and relatives over the holiday. Traveling as a family will be the most popular way to go with 34 percent of travelers making a journey with children or other family members.

“Last year, soaring gas prices and a deteriorating economy resulted in far fewer trips being taken than had been forecasted,” said Robert L. Darbelnet, AAA President & CEO. “The good news is sharply lower gas prices and plentiful travel bargains have Americans feeling better about taking a road trip this summer which should help tourism-based economic activity throughout the nation.”

Approximately one in seven Americans is employed directly or indirectly by the travel industry, Darbelnet said.

— The Associated Press contributed to this report.