Kampgrounds of America, Inc. (KOA) is celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month by releasing its 2021 Latinx Camping Snapshot, which highlights the continued growth of camping popularity among U.S. Latinx audiences.
Latinx campers represent 6.3 million camping households in the U.S., with 15% new to camping in 2021, based on data collected by KOA as part of its monthly research reports.
The increase is more than triple the 1.9 million Hispanic camping households in 2014. Furthermore, two-thirds of campers are younger than 40, the report found, with millennials making up about 48% of campers.
“The outdoors should be a place where anyone can explore and camping audiences are reflecting that more now than ever before,” said Toby O’Rourke, president and CEO of KOA. “Latinx campers are among the fastest-growing consumers enjoying today’s modern camping experiences and our snapshot shows us just how critical this audience will be to the future of the camping industry.”
The snapshot is available in English and Spanish. Other data points speak directly to the interests and behaviors of this group, including:
- 73% of Latinx campers prefer tent camping over other lodging options
- 71% of Latinx campers camp with multi-generational groups
- Nearly two-thirds of Latinx campers camp with children
- Fishing (44%) and hiking (40%) are among the top camping recreation activities
KOA celebrates and encourages Latinx camping through efforts that span beyond Hispanic Heritage Month. The company has engaged Latino Outdoors, a Latinx-led organization working to create a national community of leaders in conservation and outdoor education, to help support the development of more programs that encourage more Latinx audiences to explore the outdoors.
The partnership represents a shift toward a more inclusive outdoor movement, KOA stated, and builds on KOA’s mission of fostering a campground experience where everyone belongs.
