AMERICUS — According to AAA Auto Club South, Labor Day travel in the state of Georgia is projected to increase 7.1 percent this year from 2009. A press release from the Heathrow, Fla. based vehicle insurance group estimates that 921,000 Georgia residents will take trip of 50 miles or more away from their home between Thursday and Monday. AAA’s prediction for overall travel in the South Atlantic region of the U.S. is estimated at 5.9 million travelers.

Labor Day is considered a summer holiday which are mostly comprised of auto travelers according to AAA. The company expects the average price of regular retail gasoline in Georgia to be between $2.55 and $2.65 per gallon this holiday weekend. Other modes of travel are expecting to increase as well with air travel expecting to rise by 2.8 percent.

“Labor Day typically marks the end of summer travel and we’re seeing more people deciding to take one last summer trip before the fall,” said Brent Hubele, vice president of AAA Travel. “This is great news as travel projections are up overall, not only in the state and region, but in the country as a whole.”

“Year-over-year growth is less in the South Atlantic region than in other regions in 2010, which AAA contributes to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The impact of the oil spill has resulted in more travelers changing their destination from the Gulf to other areas rather than causing massive amounts of cancellations,” said Hubele. “The good news is the South Atlantic region is moving in a positive direction from last year with a healthy increase in Labor Day travel.”

According to statistics provided by AAA, Georgia contributes the second-largest share of tourism output (13.2 percent) in the South Atlantic region with Atlanta being one of the top cities for tourism in the U.S. Even after the Gulf oil spill Florida leads in tourism in the region with 40 percent because of its high profile beaches and amusement parks.

Surveys conducted by AAA determine that the average distance traveled by Americans this Labor Day holiday weekend is expected to be 635 miles, slightly less than one year ago. Median spending is expected to be $697 this Labor Day, nearly $50 more than last year when median spending was estimated at $650. Labor Day weekend traveler activity breaks down into dining at 63 percent; shopping 47 percent and visiting with friends and relatives (43 percent).

Airfares over the Labor Day holiday weekend are also expected to increase nine percent from last year. The lowest round-trip rates move up to $179 for the top 40 U.S. air routes. Weekend daily car rental rates will increase seven percent to an average of $46. And hotel rates for AAA Three Diamond lodgings are expected to increase six percent from a year ago with travelers spending an average of $139 per night compared to $132 last year.

AAA’s travel projections are based on economic forecasting and research by IHS Global Insight. The Boston-based economic research and consulting firm partnered with AAA in 2009 to jointly analyze travel trends during major holidays. AAA has reported on holiday travel trends for more than two decades. The complete AAA/IHS Global Insight 2010 Labor Day holiday travel forecast can be viewed at www. AAA.com/news.