Recently, news from the United States revealed that KOA, Coleman, and the Outdoor Foundation jointly released the 2011 Camping Industry Special Report. According to the study, nearly 40 million Americans participated in camping activities in 2010, a figure that exceeds 14% of the entire U.S. population aged six and above.
"Despite the current economic uncertainty, the data from the research report shows that camping remains a key component of leisure life for many Americans," said Chris Fanning, Executive Director of the Outdoor Foundation. "We are grateful for the support from Coleman and KOA, which provided first-hand insights into the camping industry. This information is very encouraging for our outdoor community, especially for those who aim to inspire the next generation's passion for camping."
This 54-page special report on the camping industry provides data and analysis on the U.S. camping sector, including consumer psychology, camping preferences, and purchasing behavior, as well as exploring opportunities in the camping industry and overall future trends. The findings are based on an online survey of 40,000 campers aged six and above, along with a questionnaire completed by campers aged 18 and above.
"As a global leader in outdoor recreation, the insights provided by the camping report are crucial, enabling us to continue innovating products for outdoor enthusiasts around the world," said Robert Marcovitch, President and CEO of Coleman. "The value of the intelligence gathered from this year’s report has been proven, and we are pleased to continue our partnership with the Outdoor Foundation and KOA to explore outdoor industry trends for 2012 and beyond."
As we enter 2012, outdoor activities are becoming even more important for parents with young children. The study found that the vast majority of adult campers began camping during their teenage years, with only 9% having their first camping experience after the age of 19. At the same time, adults are also taking the initiative to bring their children camping.
"KOA has been providing public camping services for 50 years, and we believe it is essential to evaluate the development of the outdoor camping industry to better meet the diverse outdoor recreation needs of both American and international visitors," said Jim Rogers, Chairman and CEO of KOA. "KOA is pleased to be part of this special report and looks forward to working with outdoor industry partners to use this information to better serve and grow the outdoor market."
The 2011 Camping Industry Special Report delves deeply and in detail into the current state of the industry, citing numerous real data points:
Overview
・Out of 514.8 million participants in outdoor activities in 2010, nearly 40 million chose to go camping.
・On average, each camper went camping for 13 days during the year.
・Over three-quarters of participants plan to go camping three or more times in the coming year.
・More than three-quarters of campers engage in other outdoor activities while camping.
Camper Profile
・Families with members aged 35 to 54 make up the largest group of campers.
・Over 90% of campers participated in hiking at the end of last year.
・In the past 12 months, 86% of campers went on extended summer camping trips.
・Over 50% of campers love camping simply because they enjoy the activity itself.
Purchasing Behavior
・Younger campers are more likely to purchase backpacks, while older campers tend to buy gas lanterns.
・61% of campers reported that their total spending on recreational activities in 2010 was similar to that of 2009.
・The majority of new camping gear and replacement products are purchased or planned to be purchased before the camping trip.
The Future of Camping
・Nearly one-quarter of frequent campers reported that over the past three years, their camping trips have become longer and more frequent.
・For those who reduced the frequency of trips, the main reason cited was a lack of time due to work and family obligations.
・Almost half of the respondents said their first camping experience was led by their father.