The traditional season opening press conference organized in Paris by the Fédération Nationale de l’Hôtellerie de Plein Air (FNHPA) was an opportunity to take stock of the camping sector in France and talk about the new challenges that await it, both environmental and social level. The president of the FNHPA, Nicolas Dayot, presented an assessment of the successes of the past season and the forecasts for the 2023 season which seem to confirm the positive trend.
The Return to Pre-Covid Levels Thanks Above All to Internal Tourism
The record results of 2022 – linked to the marked improvement in the health situation and a favorable climate since April – mark the return to pre-Covid levels with a budget of 136 million overnight stays(from April to September 2022), or +7.5% compared to 2019, the reference year, which recorded 129 million overnight stays.
The season was dragged above all by domestic tourism, with 72% of French customers, but the presence of foreigners (especially Dutch, German, Belgian, and Swiss) has nevertheless grown, marking an encouraging +1.4% compared to 2019. British tourists also returned to visit French campsites, but not yet at the pre-pandemic level, while Spanish and Italians reappear more timidly. The preferred destination remains the campsites in coastal areas, which record an average increase of 8.4% of overnight stays.
An interesting fact expressed by the 2022 season is the increase in overnight stays in bungalows, mobile homes and chalets, those accommodations that offer greater comfort than traditional camping: this type of accommodation recorded a +7% compared to 2019, confirming the interest of a part of the clientele to spend their holidays in contact with nature, but without renouncing comfort.
2023 Promises to Be a Successful Season
We also look with optimism at the season that has just begun. And it could not be otherwise given the first data arriving on bookings in April and May, both showing strong growth compared to last year (+13% bookings in April and +55% in May).
But even looking at the bookings for the entire season, there’s something to smile about: according to the Atout France observatory, in fact, as of April 9, there are already talks of 63 million overnight stays booked, a figure up 21% compared to the same period of 2022. Both the French clientele (+15% compared to 2022) and the international one, mainly European (+33%), are growing, with visitors from Holland and Germany taking the lion’s share (+34% respectively and +30%). And the increase in bookings regards all types of accommodation: from pitches (+30%) to equipped accommodation (+17%).
The Campsite Confirms its Great Appeal to the French
Camping holidays undoubtedly continue to attract the French, as 13% of the population choose it almost every year. But what are the reasons for this success? The answer to the question is the study carried out by the IFOP, the French Institute of Opinion Polls, presented during the press conference. Conducted in March on a sample of 1,503 people, the study shows the good image enjoyed by the camping holiday formula, awarded by 8 out of 10 French people.
In a context in which inflation and a reduction in purchasing power are causing concern, camping is seen as a financially accessible form of holiday even for the most economically fragile categories, thanks in particular to the diversity of the offer – from 1-star campsites to the more luxurious 5-star villages – which allows everyone to find the best solution for the available budget.
According to the survey, for 72% of those interviewed the quality-price ratio is precisely the main reason that leads them to choose camping to the detriment of other tourist solutions. The possibility of staying in an accommodation “equipped like a home” is also highly appreciated by the sample interviewed: in fact, for 51% this possibility is the main reason for the choice.
The convivial aspect, the contact with nature and the possibility of being able to use entertainment equipment such as swimming pools, slides and water games, entertainment and play areas for children, do the rest. No less important is the growing tendency to identify camping holidays as a form of ecological tourism. 76% of the interviewees think so (+9% compared to 2020).
The Ability to Adapt to Environmental and Social Challenges
But the camping sector is facing new challenges that will be increasingly important in the years to come. First of all, climate change. The images of the devastating fires of last summer are still vivid in our mind, and the damage caused by floods, landslides, and coastal erosion too. Faced with all this, the sector is mobilizing through various initiatives, two of which were mentioned during the FNHPA press conference.
First of all, the “Practical guide on the safety of camping grounds” was presented, updated precisely following the events of summer 2022. The document is the result of the joint work of the FNHPA and the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion, which updated the previous 2011 version. The Guide clearly summarizes the legal and regulatory framework on the subject of safety in campsites and suggests the best practices which managers can inspire in preparing and managing risky situations. The update concerned in particular campsites exposed to the risk of forest fires.
The second initiative mentioned is the “Camping zero waste” campaign, which has allowed the campsites in Brittany (participating in the trial) to reduce waste production by up to 80% in 2021 compared to the previous year. At the end of the experimentation, the FNHPA oversaw the drafting of the “Zero Waste” booklet, which summarizes the 13 best practices to be implemented to move in the direction of greener tourism. The aim is to generalize these ecological practices to all French campsites.
The Importance of Finding Specialized Personnel
The other important challenge is played out in the field of personnel research. Although the camping sector in France is constantly growing and expects to create 10,000 jobs over the next ten years, companies are struggling to find staff and manpower to hire. With the aim of enhancing the trades of the supply chain and facilitating the meeting between job supply and demand, the FNHPA has created two useful tools, one intended for campsite managers, the other aimed at companies and future candidates.
The first tool is a cartography of trades: 14 files summarizing the profiles and skills required for each job; the second is the ma-carriere-camping.fr website, launched last February, where you can consult over 40,000 job offers available in the sector, but also the job profiles to learn more about the supply chain and possible training that can prepare you for the profession.
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