Caravanning looking promising for 2010

The news recently has been full of predictions about the economy and what 2010 will be likely to hold for us all.

As usual, many of the pundits differ wildly in their predictions and while they argue with each other, the rest of us have to try and get on with our normal lives!

Yet, in the area of UK-based caravanning and mobile holidays, the picture is looking promising.

Of course it is early days in the year yet but already pitch site sales through The Camping and Caravanning Club sites were up by 15% in December 2009*.

There seem to be many factors that are leading to people again considering staying in the UK for their holidays this year:

• the weakness of the pound against the Euro – in spite of some short-lived rallies of Sterling in January and February 2010, it still sits around 20-30% weaker against the Euro than it was a few years ago which means higher and higher costs for Britons visiting Eurozone countries;
• fears of terrorism and travel related problems continue to weigh heavily on the minds of some;
• increasingly the carbon footprint of wide-ranging foreign holidays is becoming a problem for the ethically-minded.

The effects of the disappointing so-called barbeque summer of 2009 already seem to have been forgotten as people plan ahead. The Camping and Caravanning Club also cite a recent YouGov survey that shows that 54% of Britons plan to take their main holiday at home in 2010*.

This means that things may start to bubble soon both in terms of prime site bookings and major equipment rentals.

So, the moral of the tale is – if you are joining the rush to the UK’s beauty spots then it may be time to start dusting off, cleaning and getting some of your equipment ready. Yes, it may still be freezing cold but spring is on the horizon and you can never be too ready!

If nothing else, just the preparation and thinking about things will start to drive away those winter cobwebs and blues!

* Source: The Camping & Caravanning Club’s press release dated 18th January 2010.