Although traveling is down and the cost of fuel is up, the number of trips taken in the United States is expected to increase by 1 percent this year, according to the Travel Industry Association of America (TIA). The growth in domestic travel volume is expected to be stronger in 2002 and 2003.

The total number of trips that will be taken this year is estimated to be 1 billion, up slightly from a year ago. A trip is defined as one person traveling at least 50 miles away from home.

Although domestic travel volume is slowing, domestic and international travelers will still spend more money, according to TIA. Travel spending in the United States is expected to increase 5.6 percent, or $615 billion, in 2002, and it is expected to increase to $654 billion in 2003, a jump of 6.3 percent.

Americans are expected to take 1.03 billion trips in 2002, an increase of 2.1 percent, and 1.05 billion trips in 2003, an increase of 2.2 percent.