KOA: Camping Reported to be ‘Inclusive, Affordable’ Option – RVBusiness – Breaking RV Industry News
BILLINGS, Mont. – Today,Kampgrounds of America, Inc. (KOA) released its Accessibility report as a part of the annual Camping and Outdoor Hospitality Report series. This report highlights the importance of accessible travel and camping options for all and showcases that creating accessible camping opportunities strengthens business and creates sustainability within the industry.
Incidence of Disabilities Among Campers
- Families camping with children in the household are more likely to include someone who has a physical disability, whereas Gen Z campers have the highest overall incidence of camping with a person who has an accessibility restraint.
- About half of all camping travel groups include someone who is considered neurodivergent, which is well above the rate observed among other types of leisure travelers.
- 45% of campers view camping as a favorable travel option for those who are neurodivergent with few (13%) who feel camping is a worse option.
“At KOA, we strongly believe that camping and the outdoors should be welcoming to all,” said KOA President and CEO, Toby O’Rourke. “We know there is an intrinsic benefit to spending time outdoors, and we want to ensure everyone has opportunities to have those experiences. We hope this report inspires the outdoor hospitality industry to take meaningful steps to increase access to the outdoors to all people and ability levels.”
Campgrounds & Accessibility
- Seven out of 10 individuals who have a disability or travel with someone who has one say that campgrounds and outdoor resorts are welcoming to those with disabilities, with 36% saying they are very welcoming.
- When asked about the greatest barrier to camping, seven in 10 mentioned finding campgrounds that can accommodate their needs, whereas another one in five cite transportation
- Images or pictures of the campground are mentioned most often as solutions to helping those with disabilities choose a campground (57%), while almost half mention having a prominent display of disability designation (48%).
- Technological access and Wi-Fi play vital roles for campers with disabilities – both for personal and work use, with more than half (53%) saying technology impacts their ability to camp more often.
To view the full 2024 Accessibility report, visit http://koa.uberflip.com/i/1527885-2024-koa-c-oh-report-accessibility/0?. Additional supplemental reports will be released in the coming weeks, exploring several topics more in-depth, available at KOAPressroom.com.
SURVEY METHODOLOGY
The results of the most recent iteration of the North American Camping and Outdoor Hospitality Report are based on a total of 4,100 surveys completed among a random sample of U.S. (n=2,900) and Canadian (n=1,200) households. Within the U.S. sample of households, results are stratified by Census Region: Northeast (n=725), Midwest (n=725), South (n=725) and West (n=725). Overall, a sample of n=2,900 U.S. households is associated with a margin of error of +/- 1.82 percentage points, while a sample of n=1,200 Canadian households is associated with a margin of error of 2.83 percentage points. All surveys were completed only via an outbound solicitation sent to a randomly selected cross-section of U.S. and Canadian households. In order to calculate overall incidence, the sample of respondents was statistically balanced to ensure that the results are in line with overall population figures for age, gender and ethnicity. Some results may not add to 100 percent due to rounding.
About KOA
Kampgrounds of America, Inc. (KOA) is a pioneer in outdoor hospitality and an emerging trailblazer in the travel industry with a mission to “connect people to the outdoors and each other.” The company comprises two unique brands: KOA and Terramor Outdoor Resorts. KOA offers an unrivaled brand visibility, providing campground owners and operators unparalleled support in campground education, design, recruitment, marketing and technology. With more than 60 years of expertise, KOA is the world’s largest system of privately owned, open to the public campgrounds, consisting of more than 500 franchised and owned campgrounds. Terramor Outdoor Resorts, a glamping venture, delivers a refined and upscale outdoor experience.
As a steward of outdoor recreation access, KOA uses 1% of pre-tax profits to fund the Kampgrounds of America Foundation, which strives to increase opportunities for all to access and engage with the outdoors, make positive impacts in the communities where we live and work to help preserve outdoor spaces for years to come.
For more information, visit KOA.com and TerramorOutdoorResort.com.
