Corona time was camping time. But last summer, many Germans were already drawn back to hotels and to faraway places. So is the big boom over? No! According to the Caravaning Industrie Verband (CIVD), sales of motorhomes in the first quarter of 2023 actually rose by 5.7 percent year-on-year. Figures from the Federal Statistical Office also show that the camping trend is continuing to grow after the pandemic. Last year, for example, Germans spent more than 40 million overnight stays at campsites.
The fact that the desire for freedom, closeness to nature and sustainable travel remains very high is also confirmed by our customers. Whether camper rental, camping resort, or outdoor platform - all are pleased about high demand as well as further growth for the 2023 vacation season.
hinterland.camp: Booking figures doubled compared to last year
Outdoor enthusiasts can find camps and cabins for their next road trip or microadventure at www.hinterland.camp - in the middle of nature and far away from the crowds. From the North Sea to the Allgäu and meanwhile also beyond the borders of Germany, the outdoor platform offers adventurers almost 2,000 bookable accommodations. A concept, which arrives! Because: The booking figures of the Hamburg start-up could already be doubled in April and May compared to the previous year. "The demand for our new free Hinterland app is also huge. Just four weeks after the launch in March, we already had over 20,000 downloads," reports founder Marcus Oltmanns and adds: "However, we're not talking about a camping boom, but rather an outdoor boom." Because: also the new offer at Cabins, Tiny Houses, tree houses & CO. is accepted by the meanwhile 50,000 member strong outdoor Community great . As a result, the platform is becoming increasingly attractive for non-campers as well and now offers a holistic nature experience.
Outdoor enthusiasts can find more information at www.hinterland.camp.
Hannes Camper: Camper rental booking rush
The camper rental companies experienced a rush of bookings in 2020 and 2021 and expanded their fleet considerably. This was also the case for Hannes Camper, which is now represented at ten locations in Germany and Austria. A thoroughly sensible growth. Because: the trend lasts longer than the pandemic and many camping newcomers at that time remain faithful to the new hobby. "Our booking situation for the summer season is at an all-time high, and since the change in weather two weeks ago, we have been overrun with inquiries," reports founder and managing director Tim Aster, adding, "Currently, we are also experiencing significantly higher demand from international guests who land at Hamburg or Berlin airport, for example, and continue on to Scandinavia by camper." Also on the rise, according to Hannes Camper, is demand for longer vacations such as parental leave trips or mobile working from the campervan. Especially great: at the beginning of 2023, the camper rental company dared to become a manufacturer and has since produced its own premium campervans together with partner company Robeta in Slovenia. According to the CIVD, compact models are particularly popular and now account for more than half of all new registrations. Tim Aster can also confirm this: "The sales start of our own fleet is fully in line with expectations. However, potential buyers compare very carefully and pay attention to the price-performance ratio. The time of Corona impulse buys is definitely over."
More information about Hannes Camper is available at www.hannes-camper.de.
Vacanze col cuore: High demand for luxury camping
The camping boom is also continuing at the successful family business Vacanze col cuore, which operates seven exceptional glamping and camping resorts in Italy and one on the German-Dutch border. Because: last year alone, the group recorded a growth of 30 percent and expects a further increase of ten percent for 2023. "Our pitches with private sanitary facilities are particularly popular," reports Alessandro van de Loo, managing director of Papillon Country Resort. "We are seeing significantly higher demand compared to last year and are convinced that the trend toward luxury camping will continue." At his resort in the Netherlands, demand has increased significantly, especially in the early season from April to June, while resorts in Italy are consistently gaining in popularity throughout the year. Alessandro van de Loo sees one reason for this above all in the increasing environmental awareness of his guests: "As is well known, resource-saving travel begins with the journey. Our resort in Holland is located directly across the German-Dutch border. The carbon footprint of a camping vacation on your doorstep is simply so much smaller, and that's exactly what's important to our guests. There's a real shift in thinking here right now and I'm convinced this will continue to grow."
More information about the camping and glamping offers of the Vacanze col cuore group can be found at www.vacanzecolcuore.com/de.
