KOA's Camping and Outdoor Hospitality Report
shows that over the past decade, more than 41 million North
American households have tried camping for the first time
BILLINGS, Mont., May 8, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- Through a decade of consumer research and insights,
Kampgrounds of America, Inc. (KOA) has carefully observed the
transformation of camping and outdoor hospitality from a simple
outdoor activity into something more. Campgrounds have welcomed
more than 41 million first-time camping households since the first
survey was conducted in 2014 as consumer desires for immersive
experiences, modernized amenities and accommodation types have
shifted. Today KOA released its reimagined annual Camping and
Outdoor Hospitality Report, which explores how the outdoor travel
landscape has changed, 2024 trends and more.
2024 Camping Intent and Travel Experiences
In the past
decade, leisure travel preferences have shifted significantly
toward camping and hospitality. Currently, showing exponential
growth in its popularity. The 2024 outlook is one out of every
three leisure trips for consumers includes camping, similarly
optimistic as more travelers seek unique ways to explore the
outdoors. This year, travelers want to disconnect in the great
outdoors simply by slowing down and experiencing nature and natural
events.
Key findings for the 2024 outdoor travel season include:
- A noticeable shift in health and wellness travel choices, with
79% of travelers planning to incorporate forest immersion,
meditation, yoga and/or mindful strolls into their trips as an
effort to "slow down."
- Top travel goals for 2024 include slowing down and enjoying
experiences (57%), travel experiences that allow campers to
"recharge" (50%), having a variety of experiences (41%), checking
off several items on a travel bucket list (37%) and making
spontaneous plans (34%).
- Campers are strongly interested in natural attractions and
campers indicated top travel experiences for 2024 include natural
events (50%), food tourism (31%), visiting small towns (29%), and
combining work and leisure travel (25%).
- More than half of campers report they are more likely to
continue camping, a 15% increase over 2023.
"Through our decade of research, we've seen camping evolve from
simply being considered an outdoor activity to becoming a
formidable segment of the travel marketplace," said Toby O'Rourke, president and CEO of Kampgrounds
of America, Inc. "Despite all the changes over the last 10 years,
one thing remains constant: even more people see the importance of
connecting with nature. Heeding the call, outdoor hospitality
offers countless ways for a broad range of travelers to have
one-of-a-kind experiences with those who matter most."
10 Years of Transformation
In the last decade, total
camping households increased by 23% and active camping households
surged by 68%. Camper demographics have become younger and more
diverse during that time, underscoring camping's popularity among a
wide range of individuals and solidifying its importance in the
greater travel landscape. Prior to 2019, camping brought in more
than 2 million new households annually, and since the COVID-19
pandemic, that number has grown significantly, averaging 4.4
million new campers annually.
Key shifts and findings over the last decade include:
- Glamping emerged as a new camping experience that brought in
15.7 million entrants into outdoor hospitality in the past five
years alone.
- Since 2014, there has been a 98% increase in the number of
households that camp three or more times annually.
- Close to half of campers in the last two years are under 35
compared to just 30% of total campers in 2014.
- 39% of campers are non-white versus 23% 10 years ago. Plus,
there has been a 54% increase in camping by people of color.
Growth of Outdoor Hospitality
Outdoor hospitality has
become an important and distinct category in the travel industry
over the last decade. KOA has solidified its place as a leader in
outdoor hospitality by offering unparalleled guest experiences,
unique glamping accommodations, self-guided recreation
opportunities and experienced staff members who are actively
engaged in outdoor activities and experiences.
The KOA Camping and Outdoor Hospitality Report showcases how
outdoor hospitality has evolved:
- The human element is a significant factor in outdoor
hospitality experience, with 87% of leisure travelers agreeing that
outdoor hospitality must incorporate human interaction.
- Travelers define outdoor hospitality as a majority of time
being spent outdoors (50%), the presence of camping amenities such
as fire pits and outdoor seating areas (48%) and accommodations
that reflect traditional camping amenities such as tents or RVs are
present (43%).
- Though it was added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 2016,
glamping was not a household word in 2014 and in 2017, a survey
found only three out of 10 campers had awareness of the word. The
past few years have shown a boom in the trend, which has
revitalized outdoor hospitality.
"As guest expectations have evolved over time, so has our
approach to the outdoor hospitality experience," said O'Rourke.
"KOA is proud to be a leader in outdoor hospitality, offering a
unique blend of outdoor activities with the comfort and services of
traditional hospitality at our more than 500 campgrounds in
North America."
To view the full 2024 Camping and Outdoor Hospitality Report,
visit https://koa.com/north-american-camping-report/. 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.
Media Contact:
Jenna
Greene
KOA@clynch.com
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SOURCE Kampgrounds of America, Inc.