03/06/2009
Glamping: The New Holiday
With the recession in full swing and the pound weakening, camping has undergone a change. The next generation of UK holiday is the glamping trip - camping, but with glamour. With a great summer ahead of us and a recession to out-fox, glamping will be the first choice for millions of people in the UK this year.
In a well-turned phrase from Redc Marketing, the current recession in Britain has caused a downturn in everything bar "Sex, Chocolate and Camping". But camping isn't just surviving - it's evolving. With the public demanding "recession chic", and the industry providing more stylish and luxury items, the British camping excursion has firmly entered the glamorous holiday mainstream.
In a recent report from the travel insurance company LV, Cornwall was voted top of the league for popular camping destinations, with Devon and the Lake District close behind. The report also revealed that advanced bookings for UK campsites had gone up by 27% this year, with 30% of adults planning or considering a camping trip in 2009 (compared to just 17% last year). About a half of those surveyed were planning to take their families with them, whilst a quarter said they would shun traditional campsites and find their own places to pitch.
This is serious camping business. With an average spend of £450 on camping equipment, this upturn equates to a £6.1 billion injection into the economy. It's no wonder the industry is responding to this by providing better quality products and all the luxuries of home for a holiday that works out a good deal cheaper than any hotel or resort. For those who are prepared to pack their own equipment, a campsite costs an average of £15 per night, compared to a minimum of £80 per night for a B&B.
And there's plenty of customers. According to Visit Britain, an official travel and tourism organization, 1 in 5 people who holidayed abroad last year are now planning a home camping trip in 2009. Furthermore, the Camping and Caravan Club saw its membership grow by 53,000 last year to a record half a million members. In other words, 5 million people in this country are planning to go camping this year.
So what's changed? Simply put, the image and the ease of camping. The camper stereotypes are no longer masochistic, welly-wearing recluses; instead, they are the eco-friendly, chilled-out free spirits who are getting back to nature. At the same time, the old images of bad food, bad facilities and uncomfortable beds are no longer valid excuses to shun camping. The average camping kit is now worth around £1000, with campers indulging in awnings, hi-tech gadgets, luxury furniture, fine food, posh tents and top quality cooking equipment. Getting back to nature is not the painful experience it used to be, but something far more glamorous.
So 2009 is the year of glamping, and with a "barbecue summer" ahead of us it's important to have the right equipment. Don't punish yourself - go for durability, go for comfort and go for glamour.
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