Getting children of 15 over to go on a caravan or camping holiday can for some parents be a nightmare. Some kids quite simply don’t want to go, and for some of them, an aversion to anything remotely ‘outdoor’ will remain with them until they have children of their own and find that a staycation is a great way to appreciate what we have on our own shores, and have a lot of fun too.
But, according to Mark Bebb, managing director of Salop Leisure, this tide would appear to be turning. And the Caravan Club would agree that more and more younger people are entering the world of caravanning, obviously not bothered by it’s previous antiquated image.
The reasons for the turn in the tide could be manyfold. Could it simply be that ‘frivolous youth’ is slowly like the rest of the population actually taking on board the current economic hardships and is realising that a caravan holiday will allow them to have a good time, plus have money left over to pay for their next MOT instead of scrapping the car and getting a moped.
Then, there’s the ‘celebrity influence theory’. Could the fact that likes of Rio Ferdinand, Jamie Oliver and Kate Moss professing their love of caravanning have that much of an influence on the holiday habits of the under 35s? Without delving too deeply into the psyche of the young person, it has to be said that the billions of money spent by the advertising industry on utilising the ‘talents’ of celebrities such as Jamie Oliver wouldn’t be spent if there was no visible return.
So, perhaps Kate Moss has unwittingly (or wittingly) done the caravanning industry a huge favour with her endorsement (does this mean we’re going to see more glamour at the caravan site?). Whatever the reasons behind the demographic change, it has to be said it is a welcome one.
Whilst not exactly on the ‘back foot’, with the recent rash of ‘out of term fines’, and the future potential for shortened school summer holidays, the British ‘staycation industry’ is in need of some more good news. Increased bookings year on year between 2013 and 2014 have been a boost, however a shortened summer would be arguably disastrous for many caravan park operators.
So, an increase in younger visitors may soften the potential blow over the next year. You don’t have to dress like a rambler and have a flask permanently fixed in your paws to enjoy an outdoor holiday. It’s healthier, it’s cheaper, and, great fun! Original article.
By: Gareth Whieldon
