Are we about to see a boom in caravan holidays

There is little doubt that as far as trips away on holiday, last year was very much a stay-at-home year, as the number of holidaymakers remaining on British soil surged.

But Covid-19 was not the only reason for this – for several years now, numbers staying in Great Britain (compared to those going overseas) have been rising and 2021 is set to amplify this trend.



A continuing trend

A recent YouGov poll shows that almost a quarter of British people plan to holiday in the UK instead of abroad in future. This number rises to 48% for young adults (those between 25 and 34), suggesting the change is here to stay.

From the early 90s, low airfares meant most families could afford to travel to far-flung corners of Europe, but in recent years these journeys have become less affordable, and world events have also contributed to making staycations a far more appealing and feasible option.



Great interest this year

Geoff Barnes is the marketing director at Park Holidays, who have 33 caravan holiday parks across the southern British coastline, plus caravan holiday homes and lodges for sale. He says: "We are staggered by the level of interest in people keen to buy their very own holiday home. We believe the combination of health risks, the expense and hassle of overseas travel, and uncertainty around Brexit has highlighted the appeal of caravan and lodge ownership at a holiday park. Being able to jump in your car and be on holiday in an hour or two whenever you choose is very appealing to people."

The fact that caravanning can take you to some fabulous places around Great Britain and Southern Ireland is certainly part of the appeal, but people have also been alerted to how caravans have improved in recent years. Many now come equipped with full-size beds, Wi-Fi, central heating, nice decor, and a whole host of things that make it very much a luxury holiday.

And combine this with the feeling of being in the great outdoors and closer to nature, then it’s not hard to see why people are so drawn to this type of trip. Those taking caravan holidays now contribute a whopping £9.3 billion to the economy each year, and the industry employs more than 130,000 people. These numbers are now set to get even higher.



It's so popular now!

It’s good news for the hospitality sector, which has taken such a hit since the start of the pandemic. And it’s sure to see the continued resurgence of the caravan holiday, which has been growing in popularity year-on-year since 2016 and boomed last year. Google searches of ‘camping’ and ‘caravan’ were up 56 per cent in July 2020 compared with the year before, and the sector has already had a huge interest for the upcoming season.

For all your automotive components and caravan accessories why not contact our sales team on 01782 590 700 or email us enquiries@bowersautoparts.net.