AAA looks ahead to MB Memorial Day weekend tourism

Friday, May 26, 2023

It doesn’t look like the rain will dampen holiday travel.

AAA said they expect more than 42 million Americans will travel more than 50 miles on Memorial Day weekend – that’s up 7 percent from last year.

Travel is back in a big way. This Memorial Day holiday is going to kick off what we already believe is going to be a huge summer travel season, says Tiffany White, a spokeswoman with AAA.

Airfare to some top destinations is up 40%, but that’s not stopping travelers. The demand for flights is soaring.

Now that almost all COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted, international travel alone is up 200% from last year.

Ryan Betcher, a spokesperson for the Myrtle Beach International Airport says they’re prepared for a busy weekend and are expecting a smooth summer for travelers.

Last year was a peak year, a record year for the airport really that was a strong post covid-19 recovery.

And we’re expecting to be very similar going into summer, said Ryan.

However, new trends are emerging at the airport.

An influx of new residents living here has the airport now seeing lots of locals now flying out. This has made MYR more appealing to air carriers.

While nearly 3.4 million Americans are expected to fly this holiday weekend, it’s the roadways where you will see about 90% of travelers.

It’s a reminder to drive safely. AAA expects to rescue 10 to 15,000 stranded motorists in South Carolina this weekend.

One of the reasons for the increased road travel is gas prices. This time last year, they were at $4.28 per gallon.

This year they are at $3.18.

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