Travelers Mostly Go With Gas Price Flow

DENVER —  By plane, auto and gas-guzzling recreational vehicle, more Americans likely will travel across the West this summer, drawn to California beaches, scenic hiking trails in the Rockies and whale-watching off the coast of Washington.

Although there are lingering concerns about the ongoing war with Iraq and the threat of a terrorist attack, most travel industry officials say the big question for the summer’s success is how high gas prices will climb.

Some believe that the cost -- topping $2 a gallon across much of the country -- will persuade many travelers to juggle budgets, stay fewer days or travel shorter distances. They don’t believe that trips will be canceled, figuring that most people put a priority on enjoying leisure time.

“The thought of prices getting higher is disgusting, but what can you do?” Scott Schramm of Maple Valley, Wash., asked recently in Seattle. “People need to go places. If prices get to $3 per gallon, that might change some stuff.”

Sherri Hice of Colorado Springs, Colo., recently packed her two adult children, Tiffany and Jonathan, and her parents into a rambling RV for a trip to Florida. She said they might have reconsidered had gas prices jumped before she made reservations. Now, she will find extra gas money within her budget. “You just have to spend it in different ways,” Hice said.

Leisure travel is expected to climb 3.2% nationwide this summer, the Travel Industry Assn. of America said.

The summer is expected to start with nearly 37 million Americans traveling at least 50 miles from home this Memorial Day holiday weekend, which would set a record, the American Automobile Assn. forecast.

“The reality of summer travel is most of it is drive traffic. It remains to be seen what impact this will have on people,” AAA spokesman Justin McNaull said. “People’s itch [to] travel is stronger than their financial limitations.”

Across the West, tourism officials are hoping for a good summer.

At Lake Havasu City on the Arizona-California border, thousands were expected for the three-day weekend, primarily from Phoenix, Las Vegas and Southern California, said Jarrod Lyman of the Lake Havasu Convention and Visitors Bureau.

He does not expect higher gas prices to deter many, although he has seen more visitors sharing hotel rooms, and says “they might not cruise up and down the lake 10 times, but five or six times.”

California parks and beaches are dealing with a double-whammy of gas prices and fees rising between 37% and 92% for families, including a 150% jump for premium beach sites with sunset views. Still, officials hope to match or exceed the 85 million visitors to parks and beaches recorded in 2003.

“We were anticipating we might have a drop-off in camping reservations with increasing fees,” said Roy Stearns, California State Parks deputy director. “It has been just the opposite.”

Attendance at Disneyland Resort’s two parks in Anaheim increased 8% in the first quarter. Universal Studios Hollywood, which will open a new high-tech roller coaster, is expecting double-digit attendance increases.

Off the coast of Washington, Stuart Baker of the Orcas Island Chamber of Commerce said crowds had steadily increased since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. “All in all, it looks like we are coming into one of our better seasons,” he said.

The National Park Service does not forecast summer visitors, and its officials have differing views of summer prospects. Some Park Service officials in Washington, D.C., say they expect fewer visits to destination national parks such as Yellowstone, Grand Teton or Glacier. However, officials at some of those parks, including Yellowstone, say they already have seen an increase in visitors this year.

From January to April, Grand Canyon National Park reported a 10.5% increase. “We’ve been surprised by the number of visitors that we are seeing despite the fact that gas prices are high,” park spokeswoman Maureen Oltrogge said.

Kaci Guthrie, front-desk manager at Marina Cay Resort in Bigfork near Glacier National Park in Montana, thinks that gas prices will affect business, but doesn’t believe that the higher cost will prompt many to change their plans.

The gas prices are worrisome for some, including Bruce Howard of Grangeville, Idaho, who runs a whitewater rafting service.

“The customers who are coming in are going to have the airline surcharges,” he said. “I don’t have many people coming in RVs, but at five miles to the gallon, that would be very tough.”

RV industry officials say they have seen no effect on reservations because of gas prices. “Realistically, most people aren’t going to cancel their trip over $50,” said Chris Satch of RV America in Wheat Ridge, Colo.

James Williams of Denver figures that travelers just have to deal with price fluctuations.

“You’ve got to go with the flow,” he said. “There’s really not much you can do.”