Social distancing and consumer travel habits continue to prove beneficial to the RV and camping industries, a new survey found.
CampgroundViews.com surveyed 2,000 RV parks and campgrounds about their advanced reservations this year. Nearly two-thirds of respondents stated campers are booking early 50 percent more on average this season.
RV park and campground owners expect a surge in new campers this year, the site stated. The same survey found 24 percent of respondents are seeing advanced bookings up more than 80 percent compared with last year.
“The outdoors and camping provide a safer alternative to other forms of travel and vacations,” CampgroundViews.com CEO and founder Mark Koep said. “We expect 2021 to be the year of camping, with record numbers of Americans camping in tents, RVs and glamping accommodations.”
The company stated RV park and campground owners are “already adapting” to anticipate the influx.
“We are sold out every weekend through the middle of July,” said Marcia Neese, owner of Riverwalk RV Park in Jonesville, North Carolina. “Our guests are excited and happy to have a place to bring their RV and enjoy their family and friends.
“We have set up remote check-in and implemented a seamless booking system to allow our guests to interact as much or as little as they feel comfortable doing,” Neese said.
CampgroundViews.com stated its survey results mirrored recent data released by RVIA, which shows record RV sales and confirms higher interest in buying RVs as the 2021 camping season rolls in.
“The surge in campers is causing the old-fashioned camping industry to improve with the times,” CampgroundViews.com stated. “Companies like CampgroundViews.com are bringing a new generation of technology to help campers enjoy their trips.”
The survey was performed in a private Facebook group including 2,677 RV park and campground owners, managers and marketing members, with 381 recorded responses.
