Travel industry still recovering from Sept. 11 setback

The travel industry is still feeling the effects of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and the impact of a decline in travel due to a weakening economy.

Statistics collected in October in the Springfield area show encouraging im-provement compared to September, but they also show the city's hospitality industry still has a way to go in its recuperation. November statistics are not yet available.

October numbers show that traffic at the Springfield-Branson Regional Air-port was down 24 percent in October, compared to a 37 percent drop in September. Citywide hotel revenue was down less than 5 percent in October, versus a 12 percent decrease Sept. 11-30.

Traffic at the Convention and Visitors Bureau's Airport Information Center was down 13 percent in October, compared to 29 percent in September. Traffic at the Tourist Information Center at U.S. 65 and Battlefield Road was down 4 percent versus 21 percent in September.

Springfield area attractions reported near normal attendance for October.

Nationwide, the Travel Industry Asso-ciation of America forecasts domestic travel volume by Americans will de-crease 3.5 percent in 2001 to 962.3 million person-trips. Domestic traveler expenditures are expected to decline twice as much in 2001. That's 7 percent below 2000 for a loss of $33.7 billion.

Inbound arrivals for 2001 are projected to decline nearly 13 percent, and international traveler spending will decrease 11.2 percent for a loss of $9.2 billion in 2001. TIA predicts a loss of nearly $43 billion in domestic and international tra-vel spending during 2001.

In 2002, total domestic travel volume and travel expenditures will show slight increases from the low levels of 2001, but will still be $27.4 billion below 2000. Although visits and spending by international travelers will increase faster than domestic travelers in 2002, they won't reach 2000's record levels until 2003.

That adds up to lost jobs. According to TIA, 453,500 jobs directly related to travel and tourism will be lost this year, down 5.6 percent from 2000. Another 74,000 jobs will be cut in 2002 for a two-year total of 527,400 jobs lost.

Tracy Kimberlin, executive director of the Springfield CVB, said hotels typically reduce staff in late fall and winter to adjust for the seasonal decline in travel. "The Sept. 11 events caused the staff re-ductions to occur earlier than normal," he said.

The country's travel industry is developing marketing campaigns to get people traveling again.

That includes a television advertisement featuring President George W. Bush encouraging people to travel and see America. The spots began airing Nov. 21. The ads are part of a broad Travel Industry Recovery Campaign and are funded by voluntary contributions from every segment of the U.S. travel and tourism industry.

Locally, the CVB and some area attractions just wrapped up a radio advertising campaign in Kansas City; St. Louis; Rolla; Tulsa, Okla.; and Fayette-ville, Ark. Those ads encourage people to visit the Ozarks and to tour the bureau's Web site where discount cou-pons are available.

TIA also is encouraging people to support recovery-related legislation in Con-gress. The legislation SB 1500, HB 3041 and HB 3140 would allow a personal tax credit of $500 or $1,000 for couples filing jointly for expenses related to U.S. travel.

(Susan Wade is public relations manager for the Springfield Conven-tion & Visitors Bureau.)