How Will Covid 19 Impact The Camping Industry?
With many sectors struggling to deal with the effects of the coronavirus lockdown and an uncertain future ahead of us, it’s no surprise that many people are feeling they could do with a holiday. International travel is still tricky, with quarantine requirements in some countries and others placing a ban on visitors from certain countries. The UK quarantine plan for returning holidaymakers has seen the prospect of a holiday abroad ruled out (unless you could work from home on your return or take a long period of leave), and the financial situation many people are in also rules out expensive holidays, as well as taking enough time off to self-isolate on your return.
This means that the UK camping industry has something of a boom period ahead of it. A survey conducted by the National Caravan Council found that 93% of the members intended to holiday in the UK after lockdown and motorhome manufacturers and dealers have seen an increased interest in caravans and campervans, as people seek to create a safe, socially distanced yet self-sufficient holiday option. After the announcement which set out the exit plan for leaving lockdown, camping booking websites reported an increase in bookings between 350% and 500%, with the 17th of May being the busiest day for people searching and booking up pitches for a staycation.
Camping, the original staycation became very popular in the late 2000s after the financial crash. It was seen as a budget option for a holiday and many people turned to camping for the first time. It is expected that 2020 will also be a bumper year for campsites and camping businesses, as people return to the campground for a good old fashioned camping holiday. The improvements many sites have made over the years will come as a welcome surprise to occasional campers who may not have been camping for several years. As people start to experience these new facilities there could be a sustained increase in the number of people camping for their yearly holiday.
Although bookings are up and interest is steady, campsites may have to operate at a reduced capacity in order to maintain social distancing guidelines, which could also see some toilets and showers out of use. This reduction in capacity could affect the annual income of campsite owners, as they will be taking a further hit on top of the total loss of revenue for the start of the season. Extending the season may be an option, as some campsites are set up for colder weather (with fire pits, camping pods or other structures with wood burning stoves inside), especially glamping sites. We can’t know whether we will have a warm September and October, but with people still desperate to get away for a few days there may be enough demand to justify staying open longer to claw back some of that lost revenue.
Manufacturers and suppliers of camping equipment will also do well from the renewed interest in camping. There will be first time campers needing all the kit, as well as families who might need to upgrade to a bigger tent or get new sleeping bags for growing kids. This is welcome news for this sector because the cancellation of summer festivals meant they would have lost a big chunk of consumer spending on festival camping gear. Outdoor toys and games will also be popular, even for using at home. If people are saving a significant chunk of money by holidaying in the UK, they might divert those funds towards having a longer holiday or buying new equipment, meaning every part of the camping and outdoor leisure market could benefit.
We hope the renewed interest in camping and glamping is sustained into 2021 – after all if campsites have to operate at a reduced capacity, there will still be plenty of people who won’t get a chance to go this year, leading to early bookings for next year and a collective sigh of relief from the industry.
