More Vacations in 2012 Despite Economic Uncertainty

People intend to travel more this year than last, according to Travelocity’s annual Traveler Confidence Report, released this week.

Fifty-three percent of respondents to the survey, released Tuesday, said they plan to travel more in 2012 than in 2011 despite a lack of confidence in the state of the economy. That’s an 18 percentage point increase as compared with 2011.

“Our findings are really encouraging for us and our supply partners,” Carl Sparks, president and CEO of Travelocity Global told ABCNews.com in an email. “I’m particularly pleased that respondents are planning vacations with longer durations and that are further away from home this year versus last.”

Of those that plan to travel more, two-thirds are planning on spending more, as well. The remaining one-third who plan to travel more without spending more will do so by increasing comparison shopping, booking vacation packages and opaque hotels (booking a hotel without knowing the name before the booking transaction is complete) and using flash sales to save on hotel stays.

Seventy-nine percent of respondents anticipate spending the same or more on flights in 2012. Travelocity data shows air fares for the first three months of 2012 are up nine percent on both domestic and international flights as compared to last year.