Will 2021 be the year of the caravan?

▶ With travel bans imposed across the globe, and the UK introducing social distancing guidelines, the travel and tourism suffered greatly as a result just as the automotive world has. This meant that those who would typically holiday internationally had to opt for UK vacations instead. As a result of this, the UK saw a huge spike in people looking for caravanning and camping holidays with search trends 56% higher over the summer of 2020 than in the previous year.

With the future of travel still uncertain, lockdowns looming for the foreseeable and isolation periods imposed for those who do travel, many people are steering away from the typical ‘sunny holiday’ and are instead continuing to search into staycations across the UK.

According to the National Caravan Council, it is estimated that there are around 555,000 touring caravans, 365,000 caravan holiday homes and a further 255,000 motorhomes currently in the UK. However, with the pastime becoming a more viable and appealing option to people residing within the UK, it could be suggested that this number will begin to rise.

Caravan accessory company, Motor Movers Direct has seen a growth in demand for the products they sell, too. Jonny, a spokesperson for the company says, “The rise suggests to us that there has been an even greater demand for the vehicles themselves. Many of these customers have been first time buyers, just beginning their journey into the world of camping and caravanning.”

The trends show promise for the recovery of the domestic tourism sector post-pandemic, bringing more people out on the roads across the UK for the foreseeable future.