Caravanning 2023: Cooling off at a high level

The hope that this can be ironed out this year does not seem to be fulfilled. This is the result of a survey conducted by the market research institute Miios together with the business consultants from GSR. Although a good 18.2 million people still have a camping affinity, i.e. state that they would certainly or very probably want to spend one of their next vacations in a home on wheels, the decline, or at least the loss of growth, is becoming increasingly clear.

Caravans suffered a drop of ten percent in the first half of the year, with 12,631 new caravans registered during this period. Motorhomes, of which 40,956 were sold in the first six months of this year, recorded growth of just one percent. The days of double-digit growth rates are a thing of the past.

The market researchers conducted 2869 interviews and learned, among other things, that younger customer groups in particular are disappearing. Prospective customers under 30 years of age are shying away from the now immensely increased costs of purchase, and the list price of many a mobile has almost doubled in the past five years. In addition come rising interest rates, which make a full financing impossible for some. Finally only 31 per cent of the new caravans and 40 per cent of the travel mobile are paid cash, 31 and 32 per cent financed the leisure vehicle so far partially, 21 and 15 per cent fully. Only five percent of customers have opted for leasing.

Fuel consumption is a purchase criterion

The decision-making criteria when buying vary. Apart from personal taste in furnishings and equipment, fuel consumption plays a role for 43 percent of customers. More self-sufficiency, such as the addition of a solar system, is of interest to 40 percent. For 37 percent, the amount of storage space is of crucial importance, and 36 percent of those surveyed want a high level of everyday practicality. This also explains the high proportion of compact camping buses and converted panel vans. After the purchase, which is preferably made at a specialized dealership, further costs are incurred for maintenance and service. These average 758 euros a year for caravans and 1103 euros for motorhomes.

The vacation behavior of Caravan vacationers and travel mobile tourists is meanwhile quite different. With the caravan the campers are on the way on the average 55 days in the year and put thereby approximately 4350 kilometers back, travel mobile drivers are 64 days on route and 11,190 kilometers on the way The most popular vacation countries in Europe are Italy, where twelve per cent of the Caravaning journeys lead, followed by France with eight per cent. Croatia lies not least due to the substantial price rise in the once favorable vacation country only with six per cent, strongly caught up Scandinavia and is for five per cent the most attractive destination. Pincamp, the ADAC caravanning platform, recorded an incredible 280 percent increase in bookings for Sweden, which can also be attributed to the temperate climate in the north, as many campers find the Mediterranean blazing temperatures during the day and barely cooling tropical nights not very relaxing.

In Germany, where 37 percent of mobile vacationers prefer to spend their vacations, the main flows of caravanners are divided between the north and the south. 20 percent name Bavaria as their dream destination, 16 percent are drawn to Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and 13 percent to Schleswig-Holstein. A quarter of campers find the insufficient number of sites unpleasant. Every fourth time, they are unable to find a site of their choice due to overcrowding.

The market researchers thus detect the first signs of a slowdown in demand. Although delivery times are easing due to a more diverse range of chassis, many people are increasingly concerned about their future financial situation. One indicator of this is the good stock levels at dealers, whose yards are now well filled again. For customers this means: At the Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf (25.8.-4.9.) there should be more bargains, negotiating is worthwhile again and will not be wiped off the table by buyers with a pitying smile as in previous years. (cen/mk)