Northern Ireland’s love affair with caravans is far from over. In fact, it’s more popular than ever. A new training center has opened to assist touring caravan owners, adding to the over 100 sites available.
The Caravan and Motorhome Club (CMC) has seen a surge of interest from new members across the UK in recent years. The club’s membership jumped from 350,000 to 380,000, leading to the opening of its first training center in Northern Ireland, located in Craigavon.
Led by trainers who are experts and are tourers themselves, the courses are split into practical caravanning, caravan maneuvering, and motorhome maneuvering. Sessions include maneuvering advice, hitching and towing safely, safety checks, laws affecting caravanning and motor homing, understanding loading, and more.
CMC’s Harvey Alexander in an interview with Review said the pandemic has accelerated the decision-making process for many potential caravan or motorhome owners.
The pandemic has also led to a shift in the industry’s demographics. A 2020 survey by CRiS noted that registrations for touring caravans were over 20% compared to the prior year. Thirty-seven percent (37%) of caravan registrations were also accounted to first-time owners—figures the Camping and Caravanning Club believes were boosted by the pandemic when people turned to the outdoors to travel safely.
The popularity of caravanning in Northern Ireland is so high that there has been lobbying to amend the Caravans Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 to increase protections in legislation. Despite some owners being forced to upgrade their static caravans or face leaving their site, per Belfast Telegraph, the caravanning scene in Northern Ireland remains vibrant, particularly for touring caravans.
The Caravan Industry in Northern Ireland
According to the Department for the Economy, Northern Ireland has over 100 caravan sites, a huge chunk of which are operated by private owners. What does this entail for the economy?
The National Caravan Council reports that the industry contributes over £6 billion annually to the UK economy. This figure includes revenue from product sales, related services, and holiday bookings.
Moreover, approximately 50 million nights are spent in caravans each year.
Caravan manufacturer, Willerby, reported a 70% increase in sales in 2021 alone, with first-time buyers being reported to have increased 20%, per Robinsons Caravans. Caravan enthusiasts are also now younger, with millennials being responsible for about a quarter of sales.
The industry has responded to the increased demand by offering high-quality and sustainable options. Many caravans now come with modern amenities such as solar panels, luxurious washrooms, and external shower points. The majority of caravans are built for all-year-round use, with good thermal insulation and decent heating systems.
The luxury caravan market has also seen significant growth. The Buccaneer brand, for instance, is considered the most luxurious touring caravan range in the UK. It offers features such as automatic, remote-controlled self-leveling, underfloor heating, air conditioning, and solar panels as standard.
However, the cost-of-living crisis has impacted caravan prices. The average price paid by caravan owners for a new caravan was £27,426 last year. In 2020, the average price was £23,113. Meanwhile, the average price spent on used caravans was £13,964, a 2.4% increase on 2022, according to Belfast Telegraph’s report.
The caravan industry in Northern Ireland has shown resilience and adaptability in the face of changing circumstances. It continues to thrive, offering a unique blend of freedom, independence, and luxury to its growing number of enthusiasts.
Featured image courtesy of Cabuscaa.