The market

• In 2009, UK residents took 17m camping and caravanning trips, spending £2.3bn during their trips (source: UKTS)
• Of the 17m trips, 44% were spent in static caravans, 30% camping and 26% in touring caravans or motorhomes
• In 2009, some 72m bed nights were spent in caravans, tents and motorhomes (Source: UKTS)
• One in five people has taken a camping or caravanning holiday in the last three years (source: Mintel 2009)

2009: year of the 'staycation'...

• In 2009, camping and caravanning trips by UK residents grew by 20%, ahead of overall domestic holiday growth of 17% (source: UKTS)
• Meanwhile, holiday trips abroad by UK residents fell by 15% from 46m in 2008 to 38m in 2009 - the largest annual decline in overseas holidays for more than 25 years (source: National Statistics)

...continuing into 2010

• According to VisitBritain research in 2010, 90% of "staycationers" expect to take at least one England break in 2010 - the 2009 experience has improved opinions of holidaying at home for many, and left them keen to discover more
• Holiday trips abroad in the first half of 2010 have declined by 10% versus the same period in 2009 - equivalent to a reduction of 26% in the last two years (source: National Statistics)
• Registrations of new touring caravans rose by 14% in the first quarter of 2010 (source: European Caravan Federation)

A permanent shift? 

• There are signs that a more permanent shift in attitudes is occurring, with almost half the population (and 70% of staycationers) expecting that beyond 2010 they will take more holidays in the UK than they have in the past (source: VisitEngland)

Adverse exchange rate movements

• In May 2010, your pound buys you 21% fewer euros than in May 2007 (Source: X-rates.com)
• In May 2010, it costs 26% more in pounds for a holiday of the same euro value, compared to May 2010 (Source: X-rates.com)

Other trends

• Camping and caravanning is moving upmarket, with the AB category growing from the smallest customer segment to the second largest between 2006 and 2009 (source: UKTS)
• Activity holidays increased by 13% between 2004 and 2008 (Source: Mintel)
• eFestivals listed just 12 music events in 2000. In 2009 already 500 events are listed

Greater willingness to book online

• According to VisitEngland, some 23% of domestic holidaymakers booked their last camping or caravanning holiday online in 2009, versus 16% in 2006. Of firm advance bookings, 50% are made online (by value)
• In 2010 Center Parcs reported that over 70% of its bookings are made online

Celebrities and quirky camping

• Richard Hammond of Top Gear fame has published a book – a Short History of Caravans – and has destroyed 56 caravans during his time on the show
• Images of Kate Moss, Sienna Miller, Jamie Oliver and Jodie Kidd on camping trips have made camping cool again. However, celebrities have also driven a new trend in luxury camping
• Tom Cruise and wife Katie Holmes have taken camping holidays both as a family this year and previously before the birth of their daughter Suri
• Designers including Ted Baker and Cath Kidston have created stylish tents ranges. Many campsites now offer tipis, wigwams and yurts (Mongolian-style domed tents)
• UK TV programmes have increased the interest in UK camping and caravanning holidays including Coast, Rick Stein’s Food Heroes, BBC 4 Documentary Caravans – A British Love Affair and Julia Bradbury’s Railway Walks. The Caravan Channel is available four days a week from 7pm on Sky 166 and Freesat 406
• The Kabes Royal Tower at 4.5m is the tallest caravan you can buy, with two storeys and a balcony