Bruce Traversy, from Toronto, browses travel brochures at the Tennessee welcome station on I-75 just before the final holiday weekend of the summer Thursday in East Ridge.Nearly 35 million Americans are projected to journey more than 50 miles or more from home during the Labor Day holiday weekend, the highest volume for the last major summertime holiday since 2008.
Bolstered by cheaper gas and a better economy, AAA forecasts that the number of travelers this weekend will rise 1.3 percent over last year.
The rise in travel should help Chattanooga’s $1 billlion-year tourism industry, which has already enjoyed the best summer since before the Great Recession.
Downtown hotel revenues in Chattanooga last month were 11 percent above last year and favorable weather and economic conditions should continue to upturn into the fall, according to the head of Chattanooga’s tourism agency.
“July hotel revenues in Hamilton County were the highest in history and some area attractions are reporting the best July this year they have seen since 2007,” said Bob Doak, president of the Chattanooga Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. “People seem more confident about the economy and there may be a pent up demand from previous years by travelers eager to get out and see the country.”