Summary

As of 2020, the global camping market experienced an estimated decline of -1.9% due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with revenues estimated at $49 billion. However, a swift recovery is anticipated. The market's growth is driven by factors such as the financial benefits of camping, rising purchasing power in developing countries, technological advancements enhancing the camping experience, and an aging population with an increasing interest in outdoor activities. Despite these positive trends, the market faces challenges from natural risks and alternative tourism practices.

North America and Western Europe dominate the market, contributing to 68% of the revenue in 2020, while Asia, particularly China, is recognized as the fastest-growing regional segment. Major players in the industry include Equity Lifestyle Properties, Sun Communities, Parkdean Holidays Limited, and Siblu, among others.

Evolving Preferences and Trends in the Contemporary Camping Market in France

In recent years, the camping market in France has undergone a significant transformation, moving away from its working-class roots to cater to a wider and more diverse clientele. This trend towards modernization and comfort has been accompanied by substantial investments, leading to the revitalization of the industry. The popularity of mobile homes and personal tents has surged, contributing to the market's surge. The majority of camping facilities continue to be independent, with 87% not aligned with chains or groups. A closer examination of customer profiles reveals that French nationals account for approximately 69% of overnight stays, with the majority being families. The demographic also includes groups of friends and couples who enjoy camping as a leisure activity. Camping trips are most frequently undertaken every two to three years, with a tendency for French citizens to prefer the summer season for their outings.

The preference for seaside locations is evident, as campsites near coastal areas tend to be favored over other natural settings. As for customer choice criteria, value for money stands out as a primary consideration, highlighting the perception of camping as an affordable vacation option. Comfortable accommodation and bathing facilities rank highly among the choices for a campsite. Moreover, environmental considerations have become increasingly important, with customers appreciating sites that are attentive to ecological preservation.

The data also points to certain macroeconomic determinants that influence demand. The aging population, variable climatic conditions, and rising living standards all play a part in shaping the camping market. The increase in retired individuals with leisure time, the impacts of favorable or unfavorable weather, and higher expectations for comfort all contribute to changing dynamics within the market. Geographically, France boasts the largest number of campsites in Europe, with a notable concentration along the coasts of regions such as Occitania, New Aquitaine, and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. Despite the prominence of independent campsites, which make up a vast majority, chains and groups still generate a significant portion of the sector's turnover. High-end campsites, in particular, have seen an upward trajectory in both numbers and preferences among customers.

The French camping market has enjoyed a robust growth pattern in terms of overnight stays, reaching between 125 and 130 million overnight stays. Revenue growth has been driven by an upsurge in market quality and an evolving preference for equipped campgrounds, especially among millennial tourists and aging populations.

Key Market Players Shaping the Vibrant World of Camping

As the global and French camping markets continue to thrive and evolve, several notable players maintain significant influence over the sector's development. These organizations are not just contributors to the market share but also trendsetters and innovators in the realm of outdoor hospitality. Below, we present an overview of some of the most impactful entities within this spirited industry.

  • Equity Lifestyle Properties A major player in the North American market, Equity Lifestyle Properties owns and operates a multitude of high-quality campground and holiday resort locations. With its commitment to providing excellent services and amenities, ELP helps set the standard for what consumers can expect from a top-tier camping experience.

  • Sun Communities - This company has carved out a considerable presence in the industry with its portfolio of RV parks, manufactured housing communities, and marinas. Their offerings marry the appeal of the great outdoors with the comforts and conveniences of a planned community, making camping accessible to a broader range of demographics.

  • Parkdean Holidays - Limited Distinguished within the UK camping sector, Parkdean Holidays Limited is recognized for its award-winning holiday parks. Catering to families and outdoor enthusiasts, the company emphasizes both the fun and the restorative aspects of camping, inviting guests to enjoy the best of the British countryside.

  • Siblu operates within the European market, particularly noted for its presence in France, where it manages several upmarket campsites. Siblu's locales blend natural beauty with stylish and comfortable accommodations, cultivating an environment where luxury meets the rugged charm of camping.

  • Jellystone Park - Renowned particularly in the United States and Canada, Jellystone Park is the face of family-friendly camping with its network of camp-resorts that feature themed activities, water parks, and interactive experiences. These resorts have a distinct appeal that draws in both young campers and those young at heart.

  • Based in Spain, Internacional Palamos adds a Mediterranean flavor to the camping experience. Its strategic location by the sea and its commitment to sustainable tourism practices make it an attractive choice for those looking to integrate beachside relaxation with eco-conscious camping.

  • TENTRR Tapping into the essence of convenience and simplicity, TENTRR focuses on providing a hassle-free camping experience through its pre-set private campsites. This company's innovative approach allows campers to immerse themselves in nature without the traditional setup and takedown burdens associated with camping.

  • Vacansoleil is a also European camping giant.
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  • Number of pages : 30 pages
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  • Last update : 15/04/2022
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Summary and extracts

1 Market overview

1.1 Presentation and definition of the camping market

Camping, or open-air hospitality, refers to a tourist activity that consists of living in the open air, in a tent, a caravan or a motor home or other similar accommodation. A campsite is thus an area equipped for camping, but there are also other types of camping, such as wilderness camping or camping in the home.

The activity of camping sites is registered under the following NAF code

  • 55.30Z: Camping grounds and parks for caravans or recreational vehicles

A campground can be classified as either Tourism or Leisure.

  • The Tourism classification applies when more than half of the pitches are intended to be rented out by the night, week or month, to a visiting clientele.
  • The Leisure mention applies when more than half of the pitches are intended to be rented for more than one month, by a clientele that does not take up residence there.

There are 2 categories of classified campgrounds: star-rated campgrounds (from 1 to 5 stars) and natural area campgrounds.

The global camping market grew at a CAGR (combined annual growth rate) of 5.6% from 2015 to reach $49.9 billion in 2019. It is expected to continue to grow in the coming years, especially due to the growing interest of millenials in camping and populations for outdoor activities.

The French camping market is also growing strongly and has seen a 15% increase in visitation between 2011 and 2019, reaching 129 million overnight stays in 2019. The sector's revenue growth is also being driven by the market's move up market in response to customers' growing demand for ever-increasing comfort. Campsites are being modernized and made more comfortable, and the proportion of high-end campsites (4 and 5 stars) in the French market is increasing.

Once reserved for the working classes, the business has evolved considerably in recent years. Professionals have invested heavily to improve the infrastructure and attract a new clientele. The two most popular types of accommodation for campers are the mobil-home and thepersonal tent. The recent success of themobile homehas largely contributed to the revival ofcamping.

The majority of campsites are independent (87% of campsites). The other campsites are organized into integrated chains (Eurocamp, CapFun, Homair Vacances, etc.), franchises (Flower Campings, Yelloh! Village) or groupings (Sites & Paysages, Les Castels, Welcome Campings).

 

1.2 The global market is growing and concentrated in North America and Europe

The global camping market grew at a CAGR (***) of *.*% from **** to reach $**.* billion in ****. In ****, the Covid-** related epidemic has resulted in an estimated market decline of -*.*% with revenue estimated to be $** billion in ****.

However, recovery is expected to take place as early as **** and the camping market is expected ...

1.3 The French market is growing and moving upmarket

The graph below highlights the sector's growth in volume, which is reflected in the increase in the number of overnight stays spent at French campsites. In the outdoor hotel industry, visitation increased by *.*% in **** to *** million overnight stays. This figure is on a steady rise as the number of overnight stays ...

1.4 The effect of Covid-19

The Covid-** epidemic has had several consequences on the camping market, the first being the drop in turnover during the containment period as illustrated in the graph below. In April and May ****, the turnover of French campsites lost more than **% of its value, only to increase again from June ****.

Nevertheless, the ...

2 Analysis of the demand

2.1 Customer profile and habits

Camper profile

In ****, approximately **% of overnight stays at French campsites were made by French people while **% of overnight stays were made by foreign residents. Moreover, the latter are mostly from Europe since only *.*% of overnight stays were made by customers who came from non-European countries. Thus, in ****, the first countries of ...

2.2 Microeconomic determinants: customer choice criteria

The added value of camping The quality-price ratio is the main reason for choosing camping for one's vacations. Camping is therefore seen as a way to go on vacation at a lower cost, but also as a place appreciated for its leisure facilities (***) and its conviviality. The following reasons are the ...

2.3 Macroeconomic determinants: aging, climate and standard of living

If the quality-price ratio and the quality of the pitches are the first determining factors of the customers' choices, some factors beyond their control also influence the dynamics of the demand. In recent years, several factors have strongly influenced the evolution of demand in the camping market. Among them, the main ...

3 Market structure

3.1 Geographical distribution of campsites: a concentration on the coasts

With *,*** campsites in ****, France has the largest number of campsites in Europe and the second largest in the world, after the United States. [***]

More specifically, the map below highlights the high concentration of campsites by the sea or ocean. There are more campsites on the coastline. Thus, the departments with the ...

3.2 The organization of campsites: independents still in the majority

Campsites can be organized in * ways:

Integrated chains: Eurocamp, CapFun, Homair Vacances, Campéole, Siblu, Sandaya

The integrated chains operate on the basis of a branch system, with a parent company and subsidiaries that are dependent on it.

Franchise chains: Flower Campings, Yelloh! Village, Tohapi

Franchisee chains are made up of ...

3.3 Classification of campsites

In ****, there were *,*** campsites in France that can be divided according to their number of stars. [***] The most numerous were the *-star campsites, with **** establishments, followed by the non-classified (***), these three types of campsites representing a total of **.*% of French campsites. It is therefore the campsites with * star or * stars that ...

4 Analysis of the offer

4.1 Typology of campsites and their offer

There are several types of campsites:

The traditional campsite: offers rental pitches to pitch your tent, park your caravan or motor home and can also offer serviced pitches The residential leisure park: offers mainly light leisure dwellings (***) Luxury campsites: * or * star campsites that offer superior comfort and high-end services such as ...

4.2 Upgrading of the offer

The general price increase The increase in the range of campsites on offer is reflected in a general rise in prices in the sector. The graph below, which also takes into account youth hostels, highlights this increase in prices, which have risen by almost **% in ** years, from **** to ****. Consumer price index ...

4.3 Supply trends and development areas

Glamping

Glamping is the association of the words "glamour" and "camping" and designates a type of high-end camping that offers atypical accommodation combining comfort, nature and respect for the environment. [***]

The graph below illustrates the types of accommodation that glamping places can offer. Tree houses are the most popular and have ...

5 Regulation

5.1 Regulations concerning campsites

The opening of a campsite

Several steps are necessary to open a campsite:

Choose the type of campsite which determines the status of the campsite (***)

For a declared campsite, you just have to make a declaration to the town hall of the place where the site is located. To do so, ...

5.2 Regulations concerning campers

Wilderness camping

Wilderness camping, i.e. camping in isolation and outside of a developed site, is authorized provided that the owner of the site agrees, but in some places it is prohibited.

It is forbidden to camp, even temporarily:

On public roads and highways In classified or pending natural sites In ...

List of charts

  • Frequency of use of the campsite
  • Preferences regarding the location of the campsite
  • Distance between the camping site and the home
  • Preferred type of accommodation during a camping trip
  • Campsite attendance by customer origin
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Latest news

Campings.com: Loisirs : deux champions français s'allient face à Airbnb et compagnie - 24/05/2023
Campsites: France gives birth to a new European champion - 29/07/2022
  • ECG to acquire Vacanceselect for an enterprise value of one billion euros
  • The new group will market 45,000 mobile homes
  • Spectacular change: the group, which PAI took control of in October 2021, will market around 400 campsites, including around 100 of its own
  • Half of its portfolio is located in France, the other half in Europe (Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Croatia, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Slovenia, Luxembourg)
  • Proforma sales to double
  • Sales of 300 million euros for current year
  • The Group's annual sales are to be compared with 212 million for 2020-2021 and 135 million for 2019-2020, this financial year being weighed down by the first year of the health crisis
Tourisme : pourquoi les fonds d'investissement adorent les campings - 30/05/2023

Companies quoted in this study

This study contains a complete overview of the companies in the market, with the latest figures and news for each company. :

Les Castels
Sunêlia
Yelloh! Village
Siblu France
Campings.com
Osmozis
Alentour
Sandaya
Flower Campings
Vacanses Campings
ECG European Camping Group
Capfun

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