Future Opportunities for American Camping Industry

As Millennials come of age in an uncertain economic climate, the accessibility, affordability, diversity and flexibility of camping experiences will prove invaluable. In fact, trend expert Marian Salzman is so bullish on camping; she recently said that one of the businesses in which she would consider investing right now is camping.

Her reasoning is that Americans will be looking to escape the long-term economic turmoil and constant barrage of the media by returning to low-cost, simple activities that involve the entire family. In addition, Salzman sees a growing group of consumers who desire safe outdoor experiences, luxury accommodations and quality meals.

Indeed, research by private campgrounds supports Salzman’s claims. When KOA Campgrounds measured the number of nights campers stayed in lodges during the winter, they saw a 34-percent growth rate from 2010 to 2011, and during the summer, lodging nights were up almost 16 percent.

Recreational vehicle camping offers another “soft rugged” camping opportunity that may be increasing in certain segments. In fact, during a recent speech, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar noted a 10-percent jump in RV camping in National Parks from 2008 to 2010.

The Millennial Generation is another area of opportunity, offering a largely untapped audience with great future growth. In fact, Michael Wood, senior vice president at TRU, a research company focused on youth, sees great potential for the camping and outdoor community in appealing to Millennials by communicating camping’s authentic values through action. For example, he suggests increasing investments in sponsoring community outdoor activities such as camping and raising awareness through philanthropy.

(*Source: Special Report on Camping 2011)

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