Camping and caravanning industry

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.

The Sykes Staycation Index 2024
Annual index from cottage rental agency Sykes looking at the UK staycation sector. Covers popular destinations and current trends such as glamping which are influencing the choice of a UK getaway.

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.

UK Caravan & Camping Alliance

The UK Caravan & Camping Alliance published the report Pitching the Value in 2024 highlighting the economic value of the UK holiday parks and campsites sector and its contribution to UK domestic tourism. Includes data on the number of holiday parks and campsites, visitor expenditure and jobs for the UK sector as a whole and by region.

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

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.

VisitScotland

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

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 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

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'

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.

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)

UK

The annual Business Register and Employment Survey (BRES), published by the Office for National Statistics, includes total employee and employment estimates for different industries for Great Britain and the UK. Figures are broken down to show full-time/part-time and public/private splits. The dataset Industry – Business Register and Employment Survey (BRES): Table 2 includes statistics for:

• Manufacture of canvas goods; sacks; etc (13922)
• Manufacture of caravans (29203)
• Sale of other new motor vehicles (45190)
• Retail sale of sports goods; fishing gear; camping goods; boats and bicycles (47640)
• Camping grounds, recreational vehicle parks and trailer parks (55300)

The Office for National Statistics publication Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) includes average employment costs within this sector which can be found in Table 14. 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.

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

• Camping licence (England and Wales)
• Caravan site licence
• Caravan site licence (Northern Ireland)

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

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:

• Tarpaulins, awnings and sunblinds; tents; sails for boats, sailboards or landcraft; camping goods
• Stoves, ranges, grates, cookers, barbecues, braziers, gas rings, plate warmers and similar non-electric domestic appliances, and parts thereof, of iron or steel
• Knives with cutting blades, serrated or not, and blades therefor
• Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally designed for the transport of persons, including station wagons and racing cars
• Trailers and semi-trailers; other vehicles, not mechanically propelled; parts thereof
• Prefabricated buildings

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

UK

• British Holiday & Home Parks Association
• Camping and Caravanning Club (CCC)
• Caravan and Motorhome Club
• Glamping Association
• Motor Caravanners Club
• National Caravan Council
• Outdoors Industries Association
• Tourism Northern Ireland
• UKinbound
• VisitEngland
• VisitScotland
• VisitWales

Europe

• European Caravan Federation
• European Federation of Campingsite Organisations and Holiday Park Associations (EFCO&HPA)
• European Outdoor Group

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

• Camping and Caravanning
• Caravan Industry and Park Operator
• Caravan Times
• Holiday Park Scene
• Practical Caravan