The UK’s campsite industry is leading the way in gender equality, according to new data from online campsite marketplace Pitchup.com.
The study shows that more than 50% of its listed campsite owners in the UK are women, making it one of the highest figures across Europe.
This is a significant contrast to other countries, where women make up only 26% of campsite owners in Germany, 28% in Spain, 36% in Italy, and 41% in France.
The data reveals that the UK’s campsite industry is an employment sector with generally good levels of equality, particularly when compared to the manufacture and sale of camping units sector, as per a report by Camping Trade World.
The figures indicate that the campsite industry provides enjoyable and often lucrative careers for women, as seen by Pitchup’s top-earning campsite this year, which is owned by a woman, with sales of over £160,000.
Brodie Farrow, Pitchup brand marketing manager, believes that the results reflect the feedback the company has received from UK site owners.
Farrow stated that the campsite industry provides enjoyable and often lucrative careers for women. She adds that Pitchup itself is made up of 60% women, many in senior leadership roles, which the company is proud of.
The campsite industry provides an alternative form of tourism, with many campsites on working farms, offering a new type of holiday experience. More than 33% of the campsites listed on Pitchup are on working farms, with agritourism becoming a popular form of diversification.
Although 80% of farm holders are men, agritourism and the outdoor accommodation sector appear to be offering equal opportunities for both men and women.
According to a recent study in Ireland, women have played a key role in the growth of agritourism. The study’s leading researcher, Dr. Maura Farrell, argues that women in the farm sector are much more open to farm diversification and going beyond the traditional type of thinking in agriculture.
The study suggests that women are willing to engage in diversification, giving rise to the idea of progressive feminism within agriculture for women.
One woman who is leading the way in the UK’s campsite industry is Harriet Cunningham, the owner of Benville Manor Camping. Harriet runs her campsite alongside her daughter and believes that despite it not being easy at times, it is a rewarding career.
She added, “It’s not easy – you have to clean a lot of toilets and clear up a lot of rubbish – but it’s very sociable and so rewarding seeing how much people enjoy the experience you’ve created.”
UK’s campsite industry is setting an example for gender equality, with more women than any other country owning campsites.
The industry provides an alternative form of tourism, with agritourism and the outdoor accommodation sector offering equal opportunities for both men and women. As the industry continues to grow, it is hoped that more women will consider it as a viable career path.