by Tom Leaning
New research conducted by The Camping and Caravanning Club to support the recent National Camping and Caravanning Week has found that an increasing number of British people are relying on short breaks to spend quality time together with extended family and friends – and camping, caravanning and motorhoming are becoming more popular than ever.
We’re now going to serenade you with more statistics from this recent study, but please tell us what you think, and if you agree with any of these numbers…
64 per cent of campers look forward to their weekend escapes and short breaks to recharge their batteries and spend quality time with loved ones, and 55 per cent think camping is a great way to re-engage with old friends and wider family networks.
In comparison, fewer than 1 in 3 non-campers take short breaks, with 60 per cent taking one main annual holiday throughout the year. And more than 1 in 3 non-campers confess to spending quality time with loved ones less than once a week.
The research also shows that around a third of campers surveyed look to camping escapes as a way of carving out time to spend exclusively with friends.
One in three campers made lasting new friends when camping, of which 38 per cent became friends for life, and 41 per cent of campers agreed they rely on holidays to spend quality time with extended family and friends more than they used to.
67 per cent of campers said that its affordability makes camping a great way to spend quality time with people that matter most, while 64 per cent confirmed that taking children or grandchildren on camping holidays can help improve their social skills and mental wellbeing.
The survey, conducted by the Club as part of a campaign to “Share the Moment: Go Camping!” researched attitudes around the difficulties of making time to spend with family and friends, and the stresses and strains modern life places on us.
73 per cent of campers confessed to checking work emails once a day or more at weekends when they should be spending time with family and friends, and 33 per cent admitted to spending more than two hours catching up or preparing for upcoming work tasks at weekends. 49 per cent find it easier to disconnect from work when they’re on a camping break than when at home.
TV presenter and Camping and Caravanning Club President, Julia Bradbury, attended the recent 2017 National Camping and Caravanning Week, and said: “In previous research pieces, we’ve revealed that children who camp in the great outdoors go on to do better at school, as well as being happier and healthier.
“This [year’s event] is about encouraging people to give camping a go, and to share the experience with friends and family who maybe haven’t camped before. Campers seem to really connect with loved ones and friends on a camping trip, engaging in different activities that pull them together.”
With camping and caravanning being more popular than ever, the Club is enjoying a period of strong growth right now. It reached its highest ever membership in April last year since it was founded in 1901, and continues to grow. The Club now reaches 300,000 UK households, or nearly 600,000 campers, caravanners and motorhomers.
Robert Louden MBE, Director General of The Camping and Caravanning Club said: “We’re calling on all campers to share their love of camping with wider family and friends, to introduce them to this fabulous pastime during the National Camping and Caravanning Week roadshow, and to find out for themselves what it’s like to experience unforgettable moments with loved ones while enjoying the great British outdoors. Camping brings people closer together, so we’re asking all campers, caravanners and motorhomers to help us ‘Share the Moment’ by bringing non-campers to our roadshow locations, or simply share your own unforgettable camping memories using the hashtag #MemorableMoments.”
For more information on National Camping and Caravanning Week 2017, and to see details of the roadshow locations, visit: www.nccw.co.uk
