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The year 2020 will live long in the memory as the year of the coronavirus pandemic, but it will be also likely remembered as a year when camping and caravanning received a huge boost, not only economically, but also in terms of their reputation in society. One of the most important ways in which this happened, according to the Erwin Hymer Group CEO Martin Brandt, was in the way camping units allowed people to expand their personal freedoms in lockdown and partial lockdown situations around the world.

“Against the odds, it’s not only manufacturers and dealerships that have withstood the crisis exceptionally well,” Martin said.

“Because motorhomes are self-contained, it has enabled them to live up to their promise of more freedom and self-determination, and to prove themselves as ideal for vacationing while observing social-distancing requirements. Many of our customers have also been able to react flexibly to temporary travel restrictions and enjoy their vacation.”

In Erwin Hymer’s home nation of Germany, sales of recreational vehicles have grown substantially during this crazy year – new registrations exceeded 100,000, representing a 28 per cent increase compared to 2019. The figures mean that it will be a fourth record year in a row for the industry and will see Erwin Hymer Group seeking to hire almost 400 new staff for its first quarter of its 2020/2021 fiscal year.

The flexibility that caravans and motorhomes have given people during this trying year has manifested itself in many interesting ways – one of which is that many restaurants in Germany have opted to serve campers in their car parks, all in compliance with Covid-19 regulations. A Facebook group in Germany where restaurants can advertise that they are carrying out this service has almost 23,000 followers. Martin said: “Examples such as motorhome dining show that our vehicles really do expand individual freedoms – within the scope and spirit of the applicable rules. Even in partial lockdown, campers can eat out in style and enjoy once again the flexibility of caravanning.”

The future looks brighter than it has done for some time, at least according to Erwin Hymer. Not just the immediate future of the festive season, but also for the year of 2021 to come. Martin said: “Visiting relatives with your motorhome minimizes the intensity of your contact with them. Many of our vehicles have their own on-board bathrooms, making them completely self-contained. And even when it gets cold outside, it’s still warm and cosy inside.

 “2020 has been a tough year, during which motorhomes, caravans and camper vans have proven themselves able to guarantee a relaxed and safe vacation – while delivering a high degree of individual freedom and self-determination. These positive experiences, as also reported by countless camping newbies, will ensure that enthusiasm for caravanning will continue to grow.”