A majority of indoor tanning businesses say they expect their tanning client traffic to be up in 2010 as compared to 2009, according to a SmartTan.com poll conducted in early February.

According to the poll, 57 percent believe their client counts will be up this year, while 13 percent expect traffic will be about the same. Just less than 3 in 10 — 29 percent — feel traffic will be down.

Results of the poll are consistent with a SmartTan.com poll conducted in December in which 63 percent of salon respondents felt business would be up in 2010 as compared to 2009.

“In traveling across North America this winter and speaking with tanning business owners at regional conferences, and in speaking with our members on the phone, we’re still seeing great optimism about the future of the market, in spite of the challenges we face today,” Smart Tan Vice President Joseph Levy said. “The leaders in the market believe we are in good position to handle what we’re facing.”