National and Global Trends in RV Travel - CMCA · National and Global Trends in RV Travel . Tony...

National and Global Trends in RV Travel

Tony Charters AM 12 August 2019

What is an RV?

• An RV is a van which is equipped with such things as beds and cooking equipment, so that people can live in it, usually while they are on holiday. RV is an abbreviation for 'recreational vehicle’ (Collins Dictionary)

• Within Australia the most common RV’s include:

• Camper trailers • Slip on camper • Caravans

• Campervans• 5th Wheeler• Motorhome

RV Road Tourism Forum - Queensland 2

What is an RV?

Camper trailers


What is an RV?

Slip on camper


What is an RV?

Caravan


What is an RV?

Campervan


What is an RV?5th Wheeler


What is an RV?Motorhome


What is an RV?Off road RV’s are making inroads into the market – with the desire to get off the beaten track.- across the whole range of RV’s.


Trends in Australia(Source CIAA RV Consumer, 2018)




• All consumer segments perceived the RV lifestyle as expensive.

• Average age of RV owner – 33 years • Children under 15 years – 42%• 67% of RV owners camped as a child• Enjoy the outdoors, fishing and time with the family • Average income range $48,000 - $72,000• Increase ownership of smaller tow vehicles leading

to selling or replacement of current RV vehicle• Manufacturing and retail sectors remain the most

susceptible to economic conditions due to the need for consumers to access discretionary income.

Queensland Profile


• Caravan and Camping nights continue to grow (11.4m YE Mar 2018) - 13% of total nights in Qld.

• Major International Camping and Caravanning Source Markets for Qld (2014-2017):

• Germany (2.7 million or 21%)• UK (2.2 million or 17%)• France (11.5 million or 9%) • Primary purpose is leisure (96%)

• 53% were 20-29yo with the over 55’s accounting for 13%

Image Courtesy of Tourism & Events Queensland

Queensland Profile


• Major Domestic Source Markets for Caravan and Camping for Qld (2014-2017)

• Queensland (average 1.9 million/yr)• New South Wales (average 234,000/yr)• Victoria (average 97,000/yr)• Primary purpose is leisure (82%)• 31% were over 55yrshttps://www.tra.gov.au/Domestic/domestic-tourism-results


Queensland Profile


• RV Accommodation Spending • Commercial accommodation accounts for

approximately 58% of Caravan and Camping nights in Qld.

• Qld’s use of non-commercial accommodation is higher than other States - 45% in YE Mar 2018).

• The average price of an unpowered commercial site for the year ending Feb 2019 was $28/night and for a powered site $39/night


Queensland Profile


• Overall RV Spending• Domestic expenditure averages $110 per

night• International expenditure averages $76 per

night• There are over 71 RV Friendly Towns currently

established in Queensland as well as four CMCA RV Parks https://ww w.tra.gov.au/Domestic/domestic-tourism-results


Queensland Profile


RV’s Travelling Queensland • CMCA estimates that more than 80,000 RVs travelling

Queensland each year. • Queensland has the largest fleet (26%) of domestic

caravans and campervans with the youngest average fleet age (14.7yrs).

• Queensland had 31.4% share of the Australian growth in total registrations of RV’s from 2015 to 2016.

• In 2018, CIAA data shows 16,703 registered campervans and 163,389 registered caravans in Qld, the second highest number of campervans in Australia after NSW, and the highest number of caravans.

(source, CMCA Factsheet May 2017; BDO, 2016)

(Photo Courtesy Tourism and Events Queensland)

International Trends – North America


• Back to Basics • Smaller and simpler models – ease of

manoeuvring, lower running and maintenance costs, access to out of the way sites

• Smaller motorhomes, move to campervans and camper trailers

• Reliability over bells and whistles • Focus on Quality • Cheap imports come with downsides – weight,

lack of build quality• Fiberglass Goes Mainstream – strength and price

advantage



• RV Camps and Community Spaces• “Instagram-worthy campgrounds” • Providing group fire pits, community spaces.• New Campgrounds• Demand for new RV campgrounds to meet

demand• Off-road RVs• Off-road, off-the-grid RVs built specifically for

off-road and previously unreachable terrain. • Experience Instead of Ownership• Uber, Turo and AirBnB are entering the RV

space.



• Demographics are Changing • In the US the average age of RV owner is 48 years. • Millennials make up 38% of campers (they represent

31% of the population (2017)• Households 35-54 age demographic are the most

likely to own an RV in the U.S. • Although Millennials (80’s- 96) are discovering the RV

industry, Generation X (60’s-80’s) and Baby Boomers (46-64) are still the biggest segments of the industry.

• About 54% of RV owners bring their pets with them.

International Trends - Europe


• Subject to same factors as the automotive market - economic conditions, fluctuation in fuel prices, government regulations of safety and emissions.

• Huge surge in motorhomes • Manufacturers exploiting their global truck

platforms • Innovative technologies in braking systems,

drivetrain information, stability controls and warning systems, and integration of connectivity opportunities.

International Trends - Europe


• Development of new powertrains, including hybrids.

• Significant growth in leasing and rental markets for people who cannot afford an RV or are not frequent users.

• Germany dominated the Europe recreational vehicles market with about 32% of total market share.

Trends in Self-containment


• Greater use of light-weight construction materials to produce trailers that can be towed by the average family sedan.

• Sustainable construction materials and use of recycled materials.

• More fuel efficient vehicles (incl bio-diesel).

• Insulated/heated holding tanks and on-demand water heaters.

• Factory integration of advanced technology

Trends in Energy Sources


Fuel Cells and Efficient Batteries• Fuel cells in 20,000+ RV’s in Europe• 33+ times the energy capacity of lead batteries• Lightweight and compact• Quiet, reliable, safe • Emission is limited to carbon dioxide and water• Automatically cuts in to recharge batteries• Uses pure Methanol• Expensive initial cost - $6-8,000• Light weight, Unit plus 10l Methanol - 18kg

Future


• Hybrid, Electric, Fuel-cell, Solar and Self-Drive

• First electric RV being launched this year (Iridium, Germany). Tesla, USA is working on an RV range.

• Self-Drive a few years away (road-based initially).

National and Global Trends in RV Travel - CMCA · National and Global Trends in RV Travel . Tony...

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