The date is approaching for the 1st Congress of Campsites of Catalonia, which will take place on April 25 and 26 at Vilanova Park Camping in Vilanova i la Geltrú (Barcelona). This is a historic event, organised by the Catalan Camping Federation (FCC), which will focus on three fundamental themes for the future of the sector: sustainability, with a keen eye on climate change, digitization, and European-level dialogue on future trends.
The organizers aim to unite campsites across the region, enhancing the “Càmpings de Catalunya” brand, and raise awareness among the public and administrations about the distinctive role of campsites within the tourism sector and the Catalan economy. Catalonia is one of Europe’s main outdoor vacation destinations, with 351 campsites offering 271,419 places and providing employment to over 13,500 people.
Events on the agenda
The two-day congress program is filled with presentations, debates, and a workshop where around 20 companies will showcase their latest innovations in camping equipment and services. Discussions will focus on three aspects critical to the sector’s future: climate change and campsites’ adaptability, digitization, and future European trends, highlighting both the challenges and opportunities.
The first day will feature the presentation of the report “Campsites in Catalonia: economic impact, relevant data, and sustainable benefits.” This will be followed by two roundtable discussions, “Climate change and the camping sector: risks and opportunities” and “The camping of the future: exploring sustainable and innovative solutions“, along with a presentation on the “Challenges and opportunities of digitization for the camping sector“.
The second day is dedicated to European-level discussions among industry players about the future of open-air tourism. The roundtable titled “Key perspectives” will involve leaders from European camping organizations such as PiNCAMP, ACSI, and the University of Rijeka, Croatia. Additionally, the “European dialogue” session will feature participation from the Italian camping federation FAITA-FederCamping, the Spanish FEEC, and the Catalan FCC.
There will also be a celebration of prominent figures in the sector during the evening of April 25th at the 1st Gala of Catalan Campsites. Awards will be presented to individuals and businesses that have made significant contributions to the sector’s development.
