History of caravanning

Caravanning originated in Europe about 50 years ago. Origination and development of this kind of tourism in Europe was circumvented by the following factors: desire to move from contaminated urban areas to the open country, absence of summer houses in Europe, low-cost of such kind of travelling, governmental support of caravanning and trailering in Europe, which stimulated development of domestic and inbound tourism, etc.

As to the estimations of the European Federation of Campingsite Organizations and Holiday Park Associations (EFCO&HPA), 22% of all travelers in Europe choose camping and caravanning.

Annual turnover of the caravanning industry in Germany

This touristic sector offers 10, 8 million sleeping accommodations and is the largest tourist network in Europe, thereby outrunning traditional hotel business with 8,7 million accommodations. The interest for caravanning has been increasing recently. According to the analysis of the Research Centre of Rest and Travels, in 2002 1, 8% of all travelers in Germany spent their vacations in tents, caravans or trailers (5, 08 million vacations). The number of people choosing such kind of travelling has increased by 34% as compared to 2001. In the period from 2002 till 2004 the interest for caravanning in Germany remained on a level. Meanwhile, camping and caravanning have extensive influence on economy of Germany and other European states. 13,7 % of all stays falls at foreign tourists (mainly, from the Netherlands). According to the research of the Institute of Tourism Economics of Germany (University of Munich) issued in April 2004 about 148,5 million night lodging/day stays at caravan camping sites are annually registered in Germany (total number of camping sites in the country counts up to 3, 264).

Number of registered caravans and trailers in Europe

Whereas average daily costs per one person are:

• 26,9 Euro – staying at camping-sites and staging posts;
• 37,2 Euro – tourist stay out of camping sites;
• 16,90 Euro – staying in a stationary camping trailer;
• 14,00 Euro – friends and family popping into a stationary camping trailer.

Proceeding from these data, total annual turnover of caravanning and camping in Germany reached 9, 5 billion Euro, of which:

• 3,47 billion Euro – staying at camping-sites and staging posts;
• 3,07 billion Euro – travelling expenses and transport charges (move, fuel, repair, insurance, taxes, amortization);
• 2, 9 billion Euro – equipment and accessories (purchase/leasing of trailers and caravans, additional equipment, furniture, kitchenware, sleeping gear, etc.)

All in all, the industry employs 170, 000 people, and its profit equals to 4, 1 billion Euro. Total sales turnover of German tourist industry is 140, 6 billion Euro, which rates at 8% of GDP.

Great Britain is another leader in caravanning and trailering.

Trailers and caravans registered in 2006

The caravanning industry statistics in Europe proves the successful development and popularity of this kind of rest which also brings a considerable income to the state budget. Development of this new branch of tourism doesn’t require any special complex programs, measures or considerable budget contributions. It is sufficient to create some basic conditions for the trailering and caravan market being launched in Russia.

Development of mass caravanning tourism in Russia in most cases has no alternative. As far as the tourism infrastructure, in the centre of which is a “house on wheels”, doesn’t require capital investment connected with construction of hotels, and new communications. Travelling by trailers can stimulate creation of basic tourist centres in future, which will be facilitated in a traditional manner, with hotels, restaurants and relax centres.

6 300 000	Number of tourists staying at camping sites, per year
170 000	Number of people employed in the caravanning industry