Nearly six out of 10 American households report that one of the residents has gone camping, which makes investing in a campground franchise a smart financial decision. But if you want to run and promote a campsite business effectively, you can’t afford to ignore the latest industry trends. Understanding the trends that are currently affecting campgrounds across the country can allow you to make better business decisions and appeal to a wider demographic of American campers. Here are three important trends that you should keep in mind as a campground owner to help your campground franchise succeed.
Year-Round Camping
Campgrounds are typically busiest in the summertime, but that’s certainly not the only season for outdoor activities. In fact, more people have started to participate in off-season camping — to the point where there might not really be an “off” season anymore for many campsite businesses. More extreme winter camping is becoming more popular among adventurers, while many campground franchises have amenities like cabins that are perfect for more unforgiving weather. If you purchase a campground this year, you might want to consider the fact that it could be a year-round venture — especially if you’re located in an area with less extreme seasonal changes.
Instagram-Worthy Destinations
Although many people still go camping to disconnect from the stresses of the real world, more people are opting to stay plugged into technology when they camp out. To appeal to these campers, you might want to think beyond the typical campsite. If you can make your campground visually appealing, you might be able to bring in a lot of business thanks to social media influencers. Even if you don’t partner with Instagram moguls, you can still promote your campground on these platforms more effectively if you embrace these kinds of aesthetics. By appealing to those in the wellness industries or those who have a bad case of wanderlust, you can put your campground on the map.
Resort Camping Experiences
When you invest in a campground franchise, you won’t be getting a bare bones site with a lack of infrastructure. That bodes well for today’s campers, who want to have access to a greater number of amenities. Sure, there are still some people who want to rough it in a modest tent. But a lot of families want an all-inclusive experience, similar to what they can find with other kinds of vacations. By combining the beauty of nature and a more resort-like feel, you can entice people who don’t necessarily consider themselves to be all that outdoorsy. If you can increase your audience, you’ll benefit from more business and show people that you don’t have to have a lot of wilderness experience to enjoy going camping.
Camping is a time-honored American tradition. But just because we’ve been camping for decades doesn’t mean the industry is immune to change. If you want to run a successful campground, you’ll need to keep on top of the times — and changing trends.