ST. PAUL, Minn. — Tourism officials say rising gas prices reduced the amount of travel by Minnesotans this summer, but not by as much as was once feared.

The decline in the number of people from Minnesota and Wisconsin who traveled 50 miles or more from home during the summer travel season declined about 1 percent.
The Fourth of July weekend took the biggest hit, with a 1.5 percent decline, according to AAA Minnesota-Iowa Public Affairs Director Gail Weinholzer.

Gas prices, of course, are the biggest reason why. More people in Minnesota and Wisconsin chose to stay closer to home, take fewer days off work and spend less money than in years past.

Pam Moen of AAA Wisconsin says the percentage seems small, but ``it is significant.''

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