Camping and caravanning industry

Use our industry guide to find key background information, market research, import and export guidelines, statistics, legislation, trade bodies and trade publications.

The guide covers camping goods, caravans, motor homes and holiday park homes. Campsites, caravan sites and holiday parks are also covered.

The Business & Industry Guides series is produced by the Library & Information Service for ICAEW members and ACA students.

We can compile tailored key players reports, mailing lists, market reports, benchmarking reports and industry news. Our enquiry team can also research other industry-specific information, such as taxation, for you. Call us on +44 (0)20 7920 8620 or email library@icaew.com.

Trends and forecasts

The Great British staycation
Report published by Barclays highlighting the increasing attractiveness of the UK as a tourist destination for domestic holiday makers. Includes tips on how businesses can adapt to the 'staycation' trend. Published in May 2019.

Why more Brits are buying caravans and motor homes
BBC News article by business reporter Chris Johnston. Discusses the UK caravan market and trends including 'staycationing' and personal contract purchases. Published on 14 December 2017.

Market snapshot - UK Outdoor Retail
Report produced by Pragma Consulting in 2015 discussing key trends in the UK outdoor retail sector. Further insights into the outdoor industry are also available on Pragma's site.

Brexit

Manufacturing after Brexit
Updated report from UK in a Changing Europe on where UK manufacturing stands after Brexit. Provides an overview of the various issues that Brexit and the Trade and Cooperation Agreement have raised for manufacturers in the UK. Published 26 January 2022.

Executive survey 2021: Building agility in manufacturing
Survey from Make UK, in association with PwC, exploring what the business landscape will look like for UK manufacturers over the next 12 months. Includes key risks and investment opportunities now that the UK has left the EU. Published 11 January 2021.

Made: In Britain
Podcast series from Make UK where business reporter Jonty Bloom explores what manufacturers need to know to navigate Brexit. Includes how manufacturers can future-proof their workforce and how they can make the most of Britain’s export opportunities around the world. Published in September 2021.

The impact of Brexit on the automotive sector
Report from the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee on how the interests of the automotive sector should best be pursued, both in the negotiating process and post-Brexit. Examines a range of issues including tariff barriers, non-tariff barriers, regulation, trade opportunities, skills, R&D and transitional arrangements. Published 28 February 2018.

Market research

Market research reports focusing on this business sector are available from a number of market research specialists. In most cases these reports are available to fee-paying subscribers or on a pay-as-you-go basis.

Some free information is available from the following market research specialists, ranging from industry news to executive summaries of the reports.

Mintel
Market intelligence agency offering reports on the holiday and travel sector including camping and caravanning in the UK and US. Report summaries, table of contents and a sample report are available.

IBISWorld
Business and industry research specialists offering reports on a wide range of sectors, including caravan and camping sites. Caravan manufacturing and outdoor equipment retail are also covered. Report snapshots, table of contents and a sample report can be viewed. The company also produces global industry research reports.

Further resources

Caravan and Holiday Parks Market Report 2022
Market report from chartered surveyors Sanderson Weatherall. Includes a review of the holiday parks market in 2021, an analysis of pitch values, industry news and a summary of parks sold.

Market updates - motor caravans, touring caravans and holiday park homes
The latest updates from automotive data provider Glass's. Includes reviews of the motor caravan, touring caravan and holiday park home markets.

Industry news

The Library can carry out industry news searches for ICAEW members and ACA students.

Statistics on the UK

National Caravan Council (NCC)

The National Caravan Council publishes industry statistics including an overview of the UK caravan industry together with more detailed data on motorhomes, tourers and caravan holiday homes.

VisitBritain

The national tourism agency VisitBritain published the report Camping and Caravanning and Domestic Tourism in 2014. It provides data on camping and caravanning trips and their value to domestic tourism.

More recent data on camping and caravanning is available in the annual GB Tourism Survey which provides detailed information on domestic trips taken including accommodation used.

Inbound visitor statistics are also published by Visit Britain. The figures on accomodation usage by overseas visitors includes camping as a category.

VisitScotland

The national tourism agency VisitScotland publishes occupancy statistics with regards to the camping and touring caravanning sector.

Scottish Caravan and Camping Forum

The results of a survey carried out by the Scottish Caravan and Camping Forum were published in Economic Impact of the Holiday Park Sector in Scotland in November 2014. The report provides information on Scottish holiday parks including visitor expenditure, number of people employed in the sector and gross value added.

Office for National Statistics

The Annual Business Survey (ABS) from the Office for National Statistics collects financial information covering UK production, construction, distribution and service industries. Statistics available include:

number of enterprises;
total turnover;
approximate gross value added at basic prices;
total purchases of goods, materials and services;
total employment – average during the year;
total employment costs;
total net capital expenditure;
total net capital expenditure – acquisitions;
total net capital expenditure – disposals;
total stocks and work in progress – value at end of year;
total stocks and work in progress – value at beginning of year;
total stocks and work in progress – increase during year.

The dataset Non-financial business economy, UK: Sections A to S includes statistics for:

Manufacture of made-up textile articles, except apparel (13.92)
See Section C: Manufacturing
Manufacture of bodies (coachwork) for motor vehicles; manufacture of trailers and semi-trailers (29.2)
See Section C: Manufacturing
Sale of other motor vehicles (45.19)
See Division 45
Retail sale of sporting equipment in specialised stores (47.64)
See Division 47
Camping grounds, recreational vehicle parks and trailer parks (55.3)
See Section I: Accommodation and food service activities

Statistics on Europe

European Caravan Federation

The European Caravan Federation publishes statistics on leisure vehicles in Europe. These cover the registration of caravans and motor caravans and the number in use across Europe. Figures are broken down by country.

Eurostat

Eurostat, the EU statistics hub, collates detailed Structural Business Statistics giving the latest figures for industry, construction, trade and services by sector and country. The indicators available include:

number of enterprises
turnover or gross premiums written
production value
value added at factor cost
gross operating surplus
wages and salaries
social security costs
personnel costs
gross investment in tangible goods
number of employees
number of persons employed per enterprise.

Statistics within the database are available for:

Manufacture of made-up textile articles, except apparel (C1392)
See database section ‘SBS – industry and construction’
Manufacture of bodies (coachwork) for motor vehices; manufacture of trailers and semi-trailers (C292)
See database section ‘SBS – industry and construction’
Sale of other vehicles (G4519)
See database section ‘SBS – trade’
Retail sale of sporting equipment in specialised stores (G4764)
See database section ‘SBS – trade’
Camping grounds, recreational vehicle parks and trailer parks (I5530)
See database section 'SBS services'

Statistics on the Americas

Outdoor Industry Association

The Outdoor Industry Association publishes a regular report on the Outdoor Recreation Economy. Includes details of American consumer spending on camping gear, accessories, vehicles and camping trips.

Global statistics

INDSTAT

The UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) collects and compiles industrial statistics known as INDSTAT, which give information on:

number of employees
number of establishments
output
value added
total wages and salaries.

Includes statistics by country for:

Automobile bodies, trailers & semi-trailers (3420)
Made up textile items, except apparel (1721)

UN Commodity Trade Statistics Database (Comtrade)

The UN compiles and publishes international import and export statistics in the Commodity Trade Statistics Database (Comtrade), giving figures for goods traded by value, quantity and weight for each country.

Includes statistics for:

Other made textile articles, sets, worn clothing etc (63)
Vehicles other than railway, tramway (87)
Furniture, lighting, signs, prefabricated buildings (94)

UN Industrial Commodity Statistics Database

The UN provides statistics on the quantity of goods produced by country in the Industrial Commodity Statistics Database.

Includes figures for:

Tarpaulins, awnings and sunblinds; sails, tents and camping goods (27)
Trailers and semi-trailers of the caravan type, for housing or camping (49)

Employment

UK

Average employment costs within this sector are available from Table 14 of the Office for National Statistics publication Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE). Average employment costs are provided for full-time employees, part-time employees and all employees.

The data includes average employment costs for:

hotel and accommodation managers and proprietors
vehicle and parts sales persons and advisers
vehicle body builders and repairers
assemblers - vehicles and metal goods

Other regions

Please see individual country profile pages for links to sources of national statistics.

Legislation and regulation

GOV.UK offers information and guidance on camping and caravanning, including:

Automotive sector and the EU
Guidance from the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy for the automotive sector on working with the EU from 1 January 2021.

Moving goods from the EU to Great Britain
Step by step webinars from GOV.UK which focus on the process for moving goods between the EU and Great Britain in multiple languages. Covers the movement of auto parts, cosmetics and textiles. The videos cover movements from Belgium, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain from 1 January 2022.

Make UK: EU Hub
Hub from Make UK providing support to manufacturers as the UK develops their new relationship with the EU. Offers information and guidance on key issues to manufacturers including trade in goods, rules of origin, migration, Northern Ireland and market regulation.

UK business guides

The Library can supply business guides on this sector to ICAEW members and students.

UK key players, ratios and trends

A range of reports on this sector are available to ICAEW members and ACA students via the Library.

UK benchmarking

The Library can supply benchmarking reports to ICAEW members and ACA students.

Valuation

Reports on this sector can be supplied by the Library to ICAEW members and ACA students.

Import and export

Trade Tariff

The Trade Tariff is a useful Gov.uk database listing tax, duties and licenses for the import and export of goods between the UK and other countries. The database is searchable by product or commodity code and results can be filtered by date and country. Information also includes links to relevant conditions and regulations.

Includes import and export information for:

Trade bodies

The websites of trade bodies and other organisations in this sector are a useful source of industry overviews, contacts and statistics.

UK

Europe

EFCO&HPA provides a list of member associations by country.

Global

Federation Internationale de Camping et de Caravanning (FICC)

A map is available from FICC showing member organisations around the world.

Trade journals and publications

Trade journals, B2B magazines and specialist consumer magazines are another useful source of news and statistics.