The 2023 edition was one for the books, as the Salone del Camper in Parma concluded with impressive numbers: over 100,000 people walked through the halls of Italy’s premier exhibition dedicated to caravanning and outdoor tourism. There was a total of 400 exhibitors who took advantage of this significant platform to showcase their products and the latest industry trends. Over 600 vehicles were exhibited and open for visitation, including some that made their Italian market debut.
The “Paths and Destinations” section featured the presence of 8 Italian regions (Tuscany, Calabria, Marche, Sicily, Abruzzo, Molise, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and Emilia-Romagna) and two foreign countries, Croatia and Slovenia, which attended a B2C fair for the first time.
In short, it was an unprecedented success in terms of both attendance and participation, underscored by the presence of the Minister of Tourism, Daniela Santanchè. During the opening of the event, the Minister emphasized the government’s commitment to making tourism the primary industrial endeavor. Specifically, for the caravanning sector, she reiterated the commitment to expanding and upgrading motorhome rest areas and reducing the VAT to 4% for the purchase of recreational vehicles equipped for people with disabilities.
Motorhome holidays, a key sector of the tourism industry
Both Simone Niccolai, President of the APC (Caravan and Camper Manufacturers Association) and co-organizer of the Salone del Camper with Fiere di Parma, and Antonio Cellie, CEO of Fiere di Parma, expressed great satisfaction with the results of this 14th edition. Cellie noted that the Salone del Camper 2023 confirmed the positive trend of the industry on both industrial and tourism fronts. According to the manager, the outdoor vacation sector can become a key component of the tourism industry, thanks in part to technological advancements—many significant innovations were showcased at the Salone—that promote sustainable enjoyment of this type of vacation. This contributes to achieving the goals of deseasonalization and decentralizing Italy’s tourism offerings.
This growing trend positions Italy (which was recognized in July by the Daily Telegraph as the best European tourist destination in this sector) as a major player, thanks to political attention. “We are pleased,” said Gloria Oppici, Brand Manager of the Salone del Camper, “that there is political commitment to support motorhome rest areas and incentives for the purchase of recreational vehicles for people with disabilities. It means that the sector is being given the consideration it deserves.”
The appointment with the next Salone del Camper is from September 14th to 22nd, 2024.
