The caravan industry is thriving, contributing more than £6 billion per year to the UK economy, according to the NCC.

In the wake of all the uncertainty around Brexit, people in the UK are opting for a traditional caravan break – with 39% of UK adults taking a caravan or camping holiday in the last three years. 

With caravanning so popular, a brand-new study has investigated the best countries in Europe for caravan enthusiasts and found that the UK ranks first – championing over Sweden and France. 

Chart: Safeguard Insurance

Why is caravanning so popular?

The caravan holiday is quintessentially British. Rain or shine, the experience of a few days in the countryside or by the sea is soothing for the soul. Holiday parks do a great job of catering to everyone – a requirement as many multigenerational groups of family holiday together, opting for rented accommodation. 

The most popular type of caravan break is one in a touring caravan, with Brits spending 19.2 million nights in a touring caravan, motorhome or campervan. Static caravans were the second most popular type of break, with 18 million nights. Tents were in third place with 14.7 million nights. 

Brits are certainly putting their money where their mouth is. With 1,489 camping and caravan sites in the UK, there is plenty of choice for a family-friendly, affordable break. 

What can the industry do?

For the caravan park industry, the most important thing you can do is ensure that your site appeals to all audiences. With the weather here so interchangeable, you should have plenty of indoor and outdoor activities. Offering various types of accommodation options can help too – according to Sanderson Weatherall, static holiday parks are seeing a strong level of demand, whilst glamping is also on the rise, with 1.3 million nights spent in alternative accommodation (e.g. teepees and eco-pods) in 2017. 

Where else in Europe is popular?

The study discovered that France is also a nation of caravan fans, thanks to the amount of camping/caravanning sites in the country – an astonishing 8,853. The French were also big spenders, spending just over 2 million on renting sites for a holiday. 

Sweden ranked second on the index score despite only having 550 camping and caravan sites. The Swedish favour exploring their own terrain, taking over 1.6 million domestic trips in 2017. The country also had the highest number of new motor caravan registrations, showing that the country is investing in new caravan ownership. UK holiday parks can take advantage of this opportunity by marketing to Sweden and the rest of Europe – showing them what we have to offer as a destination for caravans. 

There is evidence that the caravan industry in the UK is thriving more than other countries in Europe. With the uncertainty of Brexit still looming over us, caravan parks can promote their facilities and locations to the rest of the UK and beyond to ensure that the industry stays strong.

The study mentioned in this article was conducted by Safeguard Insurance.