Shanghai, November 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/
Mr. Goute, President of the French FFCC RV and Camping Federation, along with Mr. Yao Xiaojing, an executive committee member of the FFCC, and their delegation were invited to visit China. On November 11, they met specifically with Mr. Chen Xiao, Chief Planner and Secretary-General of the Organizing Committee of the China (Shanghai) RV & Camping Leisure Sports Industry Expo, for a friendly discussion. The meeting was also attended by Mr. Zhang Xueqiang, General Manager of Shanghai Sinoexpo Informa Markets International Exhibition Co., Ltd., the organizing body of the expo; Mr. Liu Haixin, Chairman of Shanghai Yutai RV Company, an RV manufacturing and sales enterprise; Mr. Lu Tao, Sales Manager of SAIC MAXUS Automotive Co., Ltd.; Ms. Wu Xuhong, General Manager of Shanghai Anyiyu RV Sports Club, an RV tourism service organization; Ms. Zhu Yanlan, Deputy General Manager of Odin (Shanghai) Engineering Design Co., Ltd., a camping planning and design firm; as well as invited media representative from Xinhua News Agency.
Meeting venue
The meeting began with Mr. Chen Xiao, Chief Planner and Secretary-General of the Organizing Committee of the China (Shanghai) RV & Camping Leisure Sports Industry Expo, introducing the current development status of China's RV and camping market to the French delegation. He mentioned the recently issued "Several Opinions on Promoting the Development of Self-Drive and RV Tourism" policy by eleven Chinese government ministries, demonstrating the Chinese government's emphasis on and confidence in the future of the RV and camping sector. Mr. Chen also introduced the China (Shanghai) RV & Camping Leisure Sports Industry Expo as the only national-level professional RV and camping exhibition platform in China’s Yangtze River Delta region, which is striving toward internationalization, professionalism, branding, and market orientation. Through the platform provided by the Expo Organizing Committee, 12 RV campsite construction projects and RV modification plant initiatives have been promoted and participated in, along with assisting three Shanghai-based companies in obtaining government-approved special business licenses for RV rentals.
However, many RV and camping enterprises are currently facing challenges and issues in practical operations that need to be addressed. As RV and camping leisure industries in France and across Europe are relatively mature and developed, Mr. Chen hopes to use Mr. Goute’s visit as an opportunity to enhance mutual understanding between the Chinese and French RV and camping industries, establish communication channels, and through collaboration between the FFCC and the organizers of the French National RV and Camping Exhibition, promote integrated projects such as cultural and sports exchanges in RV and camping leisure between France (Europe) and China. Both sides can organize reciprocal visits, exhibitions, and observation tours for senior management from RV manufacturers and campsite enterprises, creating conditions for further deepening and implementing pragmatic cooperative projects.
Mr. Goute, President of the French RV and Camping Federation, is also very optimistic about the future of China’s RV and camping market. He also introduced the current state of RV and camping development in France: there are approximately 430,000 registered RVs in France, with around 4,000 existing RV campsites. RV camping is the most popular form of accommodation for self-drive tourism in France, and France's camping accommodation capacity ranks first in Europe, accounting for 34% of all European campsites. Additionally, the number of national RV parks in France is second only to that of the United States. Mr. Goute holds a very positive outlook on the future development prospects of China’s RV and camping industry. Although China currently has less than one-tenth the number of campsites compared to France and only about 10,000 RVs (suitable for overnight stays), China’s land area is 20 times that of France, giving it a clear advantage in terms of population and consumer base.
However, the Chinese public’s true understanding of the cultural lifestyle associated with RVs and camping is still in its initial stages, requiring considerable experience and time to fully develop. Mr. Goute mentioned collaborating with the Shanghai Anyiyu RV Sports Club to host the “China-France Huaxia Journey RV Tour” and related activities. During this trip to China, he also plans to survey potential RV tourism sites and routes, and to customize 100 dedicated rental RVs for future organized RV leisure tour groups from France (Europe) traveling self-drive in China. He will also collaborate with China Automotive News to investigate relevant RV manufacturing companies. Therefore, the FFCC also hopes to strengthen communication with the Expo Organizing Committee through this visit, deepen cooperation in areas such as RV manufacturing technology, campsite planning, construction and operation, RV tourism cultural exchanges, and RV tourism exhibition economy, and establish a long-term comprehensive strategic partnership.
In the end, the Expo Organizing Committee and the French FFCC RV and Camping Federation agreed to establish a strategic partnership. The FFCC has been invited to become a supporting organization of the Expo; a signing ceremony will be held during the 2017 Expo; Mr. Zhang Xueqiang, General Manager of Shanghai Sinoexpo Informa Markets International Exhibition Co., Ltd., invited Mr. Goute to attend the opening ceremony of the 4th China (Shanghai) RV & Camping Leisure Sports Industry Expo in 2017 as a distinguished guest, and to participate in the keynote forum — "Forum on Management and Operational Models of Domestic and International RV & Camping Industries."
The FFCC also invited the Expo Organizing Committee and Chinese RV and camping industry entities to participate in the annual French National RV & Camping Exhibition held at the end of September and early October each year. They will also facilitate liaison and coordination between the exhibition organizers and Shanghai Sinoexpo Informa Markets, promoting bilateral cooperation. The meeting also included a signing ceremony where the FFCC certified the Shanghai Anyiyu RV Club as one of its first Chinese member units, with both parties signing the agreement on-site and taking a commemorative group photo.
Mr. Zhang Xueqiang, General Manager of Shanghai Sinoexpo Informa Markets International Exhibition Co., Ltd., presented Mr. Goute with a commemorative stamp album
Group photo
Exhibition Overview
In 2016, the Chinese government successively introduced a series of strong policies to promote the construction of self-drive and RV campsites and remove bottlenecks. Campsite development across the country quickly followed suit, and the RV and camping leisure industry chain in the developed regions of the Yangtze River Delta is gradually forming, showing promising development trends.
The China (Shanghai) RV & Camping Leisure Sports Industry Expo (hereinafter referred to as the Shanghai RV & Camping Expo) was established under this backdrop in 2014 and has successfully been held for three editions. In 2017, the 4th edition of the Expo, hosted by Shanghai Sinoexpo Informa Markets International Exhibition Co., Ltd., will be significantly upgraded. From April 26–29, it will move to the Shanghai New International Expo Centre, featuring 11,700 square meters of indoor exhibition space.
This edition of the Expo aims to strengthen and advance the development of China’s RV and camping industry, striving to showcase the entire industry chain. We aim to provide a one-stop trade and cooperation platform for businesses selecting various RVs, cabins, outdoor leisure products, and supporting facilities for RV campsites, RV rental service companies, and RV clubs that are under planning and construction.
The Shanghai RV & Camping Expo features eight major exhibition zones: International and Domestic RV Exhibition Zone, Cabins and Tents Exhibition Zone, Campsite Exhibition Zone, RV Aftermarket and Accessories Exhibition Zone, RV Rental and Tourism Services Exhibition Zone, Outdoor Sports Facilities Exhibition Zone, Aviation and Water Sports Exhibition Zone, and Media, Associations, and Research Institutions Exhibition Zone. This layout is designed according to the current development status of the RV and camping industry, aiming to showcase the full industry chain. It further strengthens inter-company connections, helps businesses identify missing links in the industrial chain, jointly promotes alignment across upstream and downstream sectors, encourages businesses to meet market demand and expand effective supply, and facilitates contract signings to achieve supply chain integration, successful partnerships, and promote integrated operations and integrated development of the RV and camping industry.
With a new venue, new upgrades, and a fresh start, we look forward to creating new industry opportunities with you together.