When the pandemic started, recreational items such as dirt bikes, travel trailers, boats, etc., flew off the shelves. As people left metropolitan areas in droves and sought out more opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors and do activities that didn’t involve crowds, the recreation and leisure industry blew up. While travel, camping, van life, and RVing have always been popular to some degree, they are getting even more mainstream.
According to a study by RVshare, 88% of survey respondents said they plan to travel as much or more in 2023 compared to last year.
The survey also found that of the people planning to travel in 2023, RVs or motor homes were their top three accommodation options. It was the parents who were the most interested in RV trips. In terms of generations, 75% of millennials said they plan on an RV trip in 2023. This may surprise you, but 58% of Gen Z respondents said the same. Regarding the older generations, 65% of Gen X and 41% of Baby Boomers said they’ll be RVing in the New Year.
If you think RVs aren’t for the younger generations, you better think again. RV travel and interest in RV travel are rising, and young folks are getting on board. Some of the reasons respondents noted that they’re interested in RV travel included the fact there are no fees for luggage, you can budget and won’t incur surprise travel costs, you can avoid loud and unruly passengers, and you will likely experience fewer delays.
We don’t know about you, but we’re feeling more excited about RV travel than ever. If you’re wondering what 2023 will bring for RVers, it’s a whole lot of leisure travel.
The survey asked respondents why they’ll be travelling, and the reasons included:
- Trips with family or friends.
- Laid-back relaxation-focused trips.
- Local trips.
- Big bucket-list trips.
- Cross-country road trips.
RVs will expand beyond camping for things such as multi-day festivals, tailgating events, trips to National Parks, and hobby events.
The report reveals another travel trend on the rise: Hush Trips. According to RVshare, Hush Trips are when remote employees take vacations while working. During a Hush Trip, the employee will still be putting in the hours but quietly doing so from another location. According to the survey, 56% of working adults are likely to take a Hush Trip, and 36% of Gen X and Millennials say they’ve already planned one for 2023.
RVing is mainstream now; you can expect to see them at music festivals and being used as remote offices.
This story was made possible by our Community Partners Program. Thank you RV City for helping to expand local news coverage in Alberta. Learn more.
