KOA: Campers Crave Immersive Travel Experiences in 2024 – RVBusiness – Breaking RV Industry News
BILLINGS, Mont. – Released today, the Camping Trips and Travel Experience report from Kampgrounds of America, Inc. (KOA) explores the trends of camping and experiences that have been driving new campers. The third installment in KOA’s Camping and Outdoor Hospitality Report, finds campers wanting to share immersive natural experiences with their friends and family while camping, as well as slowing down to take in the moment.
Emerging Experiences for Campers
- Campers are seeking a balance of activities. The top desired activities include enjoying an adult beverage by a campfire, fishing, hiking, taking scenic drives/sight-seeing, bird watching, stargazing, and visiting historical sites.
- There is a growing desire to try new experiences. Recent trends show campers are seeking new adventures, with a rise in overlanding and backcountry camping. However, glamping was the leader for the first-time camping experiences in 2023, with 32% of campers trying a glamping trip for the first time.
- Shoulder and off-peak travel have increased by 21%, while peak season travel has seen a 4% decline. Campers have noted overcrowding or inclement weather as reasons for the increased change in shoulder season travel.
- Winter camping has piqued interest among campers with roughly one in four active camping households having gone winter camping in 2023/2024 winter season. This is significantly up from 14% in 2021/2022 and 17% in 2022/2023. 86% of RVers said they use their RV for a variety of experiences, from outdoor recreation, to staying with friends, to attending festivals and outdoor events. RV enthusiasts also shared that RV travel affords both spontaneity and a greater sense of safety and security.
“As outdoor enthusiasts continue to seek diverse and elevated experiences, our latest reports shed light on the evolving landscape of camping,” said Toby O’Rourke, president and CEO of Kampgrounds of America, Inc. “For the past decade, KOA has utilized findings from our research to modernize and evolve within the camping landscape, allowing us to be the leaders in outdoor hospitality. This targeted report on travel experiences will ensure our industry continues to meet and exceed expectations of our guests to create safe, fun and fulfilling experiences for years to come.”
10 Years of Trends in Camping Accommodations
- Since 2014, RV ownership has also doubled, with 77% of RVers traveling in an RV they personally own. An estimated 1.7 million households rented an RV in 2023, a rate that’s projected to increase to 1.9 million in the coming year.
- For the first time since the survey’s inception in 2014, there was a drop in the number of households tent camping.
- Blended travel is on the rise, as 92% of all campers combined their trips with other types of travel or accommodations. This included hotel or resort stays, staying at a hunting or fishing camp, or lodges.
Desired Travel Experiences for 2024
- Campers desire to slow down and simply enjoy the experience in 2024, followed by travel experience that allows them to recharge.
- 48% of campers are looking to spend more time with family and friends, making this the most important consideration for travel.
- The top types of outdoor trips include staying at an outdoor resort designed for glamping and/or staying at a campground that includes lots of services and amenities.
To view the full 2024 Camping Trips and Travel Experience Report, visit http://koa.uberflip.com/i/1522297-2024-koa-c-oh-report-experiences/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 KAMPGROUNDS OF AMERICA
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.
