Lots of New People Take Up Caravanning

Reasons To Be Cheerful

Ash clouds, dramatic financial reform, poor exchange rates, petrol prices spiralling upwards and a disastrous football world cup attempt by England. Not such a great year for the UK and we are not even at the end of 2010. One of the things that has come out of this year to the detriment of Jeremy Clarkson’s enjoyment on the roads but to the advantage of many UK tourist destinations has been a sharp increase in the number of caravan holidays taken by UK families. Caravanning has emerged from the economic recession as an unlikely winner. The new initiates into the caravanning world are not from the older generation but primarily from between 20-30 year old people. One insurer reported a 62% rise in people of this age asking for caravan and motor home insurance and sales in caravan showrooms nationally are reported to have gone up by 15%.

Economic Challenges

Many observers believe that the upward trend is caused by the various economic shackles being placed on young people and families. These include higher unemployment and lower wages, plus rising costs of travel caused in part by exceptionally high petrol prices. Many younger people are struggling to save money, not helped by low interests rates, and are unable to afford to take holidays abroad because of unfavourable exchange rates. Plus the unprecedented no-fly zone over Europe at the beginning of the year and the later collapse of many holiday companies has significantly lowered consumer confidence in the foreign travel industry.

Environmental Concerns

In recent years there has been a surge in environmental consciousness and this has also had its part to play in the proliferation of caravanning in the UK. Many younger people in particular are keen to be carbon neutral and to protect the environment. For many people this means that travelling by plane is simply not an option. The UK countryside is again being enjoyed by lots of people and there has been a surge in the amount of people walking and becoming involved with a whole range of outdoor pursuits.

Big Society

All this means that the humble caravan is once again viewed as a reliable, affordable and enjoyable way to holiday in the UK. This has had a positive affect on many UK tourist destinations. The Caravan Club report that their members spent an estimated £400 million in 2009 in the rural UK economy, a figure that must be larger this year, it is also a figure that doesn’t take into account pitch fees.

About half a million caravans and motor homes are thought to be in regular use in the UK. With nearly a million leisure vehicles owned by UK residents. The Caravan Club has over 800,000 members underlining the amount of individuals that take a keen interest in caravans and are happy to pay a membership fee for the privilege of using the clubs sites.