The boom in motor caravans in Germany has increased significantly in recent years. According to the Federal Motor Transport Authority, almost 908,000 motorhomes were registered at the beginning of the year, which corresponds to an increase of around 8 per cent compared to the previous year. The number has even more than doubled since 2017.
This development reflects a growing interest in caravanning, which has been driven by a change in image and the desire for more individual and nature-loving holidays. The coronavirus pandemic has further accelerated this trend. Interestingly, the increase in motorhomes has not led to a decline in caravans. Their new registrations have actually been higher in recent years than before. This indicates that interest in mobile forms of travel has increased overall.
However, the distribution of motor caravans in Germany is uneven. Particularly high densities can be found in Schleswig-Holstein and Bavaria, with places such as Schleswig-Flensburg and North Friesland, directly on the Danish border, and Garmisch-Partenkirchen on the edge of the Alps, standing out.
The effects of this boom are also relevant for other holiday destinations. Due to the increasing popularity of motorhomes as a form of travel, destinations that are particularly attractive for caravanning or offer special natural and cultural attractions could see an increase in the number of German tourists. Countries that offer well-developed and attractive camping infrastructures could particularly benefit from this trend and may find themselves motivated to further expand and improve their offerings to meet the needs of these travellers.