UPDATE: MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - Recently Michigan experienced a slight dip in gas prices. As this slow decrease takes place the question is asked, how much do gas prices affect tourist plans and tourist attractions?

As of late, filling up at the pumps has been a pretty depressing task to tackle. Prices aren't as high as they once were, but nonetheless filling up a vehicle has proven to be a painful experience. With these high prices, tourist attitudes and numbers begin to fluctuate.

"No one likes to see the price of gas go up because it has a direct effect on disposable income which a lot of times is going to affect tourism immediately." - Brendan Dwyer, Manager of Marketing Communications, Greater Lansing Convention and Visitor's Bureau

While gas prices obviously affect the decision process on whether to travel on not, Dwyer also explains that the Greater Lansing Area doesn't take as hard of a hit to tourist numbers as one might imagine. The Lansing Area possesses some critical characteristics that allow for their tourist numbers to remain at a fairly steady rate.

"Most of the people that visit Greater Lansing Area are from within Michigan or maybe Northern Ohio and Indiana, so we're still an easy drive for a lot of the people that would visit anyway." - Brendan Dwyer

Lansing proves to be a diamond in the rough because of its location in the state and close proximity to neighboring states. Yet for some, gas continues to break the bank and influence travel decisions.

"Absolutely, I would take longer road trips, I also have family on the East coast that I would be excited to be able to go and drive 10 hours and see them versus have them pay for me to take an airplane because I'm not, I don't have all that much money as a graduate student." - Chelsea Hutch, Graduate Student, Michigan State University

Once in a while consumers can find a steal on gas but it's a skill that requires much attention. For now, tourists will have to accept costs associated with their journey.

While tourist numbers are generally associated with the Summer months, Lansing normally hits their peak in the Fall because of Spartan home football games.

ORIGINAL STORY: MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - Tune in to Meridian Magazine on Monday July 11th for a look at how gas prices are affecting tourism in the area.