Analysis of the Market Status of China's Camping Industry in 2021: Rapid Industry Development [Figure]

Overview: The improvement in residents’ consumption capacity has laid the foundation for the rapid development of the camping industry.

Camping is a short-term outdoor lifestyle, a temporary outdoor settlement set up for engineering, military, surveying, tourism, and other purposes. It includes simple forms of short-term outdoor accommodation such as tents, thatched shelters, and RVs. Currently, the two most mainstream camping methods on the market are tent camping and RV camping.

Main Camping Methods

Currently, China’s economy is growing steadily and rapidly, with per capita disposable income and consumption expenditure of Chinese residents further increasing. As people’s quality of life improves, their pursuits shift from material to spiritual aspects, making tourism an important part of enhancing life quality. According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, per capita spending on education, culture, and entertainment rose from 1,262 yuan in 2012 to 2,599 yuan in 2021.

Data sources: National Bureau of Statistics, Zhiyan ConsultingCurrent Market Situation: Industry Development Indicators Are Improving

1. Market Operations: Revenue from main business of regulated campsite services is steadily increasing.

Compared to other outdoor activities, camping has a relatively low entry barrier, with a wide range of product prices, requiring less investment from consumers. It also meets multiple needs such as socializing, exercising, and traveling during holidays.

Currently, the “post-80s” and “post-90s” are the main consumer groups for camping in China, primarily consisting of family customers. Temperature is the biggest factor influencing users’ willingness to go camping, with July to September being the peak season. This is mainly because the weather is relatively comfortable during this period, and it coincides with summer vacation, leading to an increase in family trips with children.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics, over the past two years, the main business revenue of China’s camping sites above designated size has been steadily increasing, reaching 125 million yuan in 2020. The main business profit also rose from -8 million yuan in 2019 to 14 million yuan.

Data sources: National Bureau of Statistics, Zhiyan Consulting

Related report: “2022-2028 China Camping Industry Development Model Analysis and Future Prospect Planning Report” released by Zhiyan Consulting

In terms of revenue, the operating revenue of camping sites above designated size in China reached 126.84 million yuan in 2020, an increase of 92.88 million yuan from 2018. The revenue mainly came from客房 income and commodity sales, accounting for 39.5% and 35.9% respectively.Data sources: National Bureau of Statistics, Zhiyan Consulting

In 2020, Hunan Province ranked first in the country in revenue from above-designated size campsite services, accounting for 36.6% of the national total. Shaanxi and Anhui followed, each with a share exceeding 10%. Additionally, Guangdong, Shanxi, and Shanghai also accounted for more than 5%.

Data Sources: National Bureau of Statistics, Zhiyan Consulting

2. Market Size: Reached 30 billion yuan in 2021

Due to the pandemic, people’s travel demand was suppressed, while demand for nearby trips was constrained by high holiday resort hotel prices and the difficulty of booking in advance. Moreover, frequent pandemic disruptions easily derailed travel plans, and hotels imposed restrictions such as no dine-in and risks of close-contact infection. Camping, however, could satisfy people’s desire to get close to nature while reducing pandemic risks, making it the top choice for weekends and short holidays.

China’s camping industry started booming in 2020 and continued to heat up in 2021. In 2021, the market size of China’s camping营地grew by 78.6% year-on-year to 30 billion yuan, with the industry still in its early development stage.

In 2022, camping became even more popular. During the May Day holiday, camping-related orders surged. For instance, Fliggy’s camping orders during the holiday grew over 350% month-on-month, and search interest for “camping” on Tongcheng Travel rose 117% month-on-month. According to Qunar’s big data, orders for camping-related products (accommodation, travel) were three times higher than in 2021. Tujia also reported that camping was the most searched keyword on its platform during the May Day holiday. In the long term, compared to camping penetration rates of 14% in the U.S. and 6% in Japan, China’s rate is only 3%, leaving significant room for growth. It is estimated that by 2025, China’s camping营地 market size will reach 56.21 billion yuan.

3. Investment and Financing: Investment enthusiasm continues to rise, attracting capital competition

The investment enthusiasm for camping continues to grow. The camping boom has brightened cultural and tourism consumption during the pandemic, drawing in capital competition. In November 2021, the camping brand “Great Hot Wilderness” secured two rounds of financing totaling over 10 million yuan. Since 2022, the chain campsite brand Hi-King Luxury Camp has received a million-yuan angel round of financing, with a valuation reaching tens of millions of yuan.

Investment and financing events in China’s camping industry

In addition to the booming investment and financing, many businesses have also spotted opportunities and jumped into the camping economy track. By the end of March 2022, there were over 41,000 “campsite”-related enterprises in China, with new registrations rapidly increasing from 2020 to 2021. In 2021 alone, 20,975 new enterprises were registered, accounting for more than half of the total.Data Among them, the number of “campground”-related enterprises in Shandong ranks first in the country, reaching 4,555, followed by Hainan Province and Shaanxi Province with 3,287 and 3,005 enterprises, ranking second and third respectively.Data sources: Qichacha, Zhiyan ConsultingCurrent Status of Related Supporting Industries: The Camping Boom Drives Hot Sales of Related Products

1. The surge in camping popularity continuously boosts demand for tents

The camping craze has directly fueled strong sales of camping gear and products. Tents were the most popular camping equipment among consumers in 2021, with a penetration rate of 71.8%, followed by moisture-proof mats and sleeping bags. Tents, as one of the key camping gears, have seen a continuous rise in demand alongside the growing popularity of camping. In 2021, China’s tent market size reached around 60 billion yuan, with an increase of over 47%.Data The booming industry has driven a significant increase in corporate revenue. Take Mobigarden, one of the leading domestic tent companies, as an example. Before the 2020 pandemic, Mobigarden’s revenue from outdoor gear and tents was relatively stable. After the pandemic in 2020, its revenue from outdoor gear and tents saw a substantial surge, with growth rates reaching 43.6% and 43.8% in 2021, respectively. 2. The rapid growth of the camping economy brings new opportunities for the RV industry

The RV industry, which is most closely tied to RV camping, is also welcoming new opportunities. Coupled with continuous favorable policies, sales of domestic RVs have been steadily rising, repeatedly hitting record highs. In 2021, sales of self-propelled RVs in China reached 12,582 units, a year-on-year increase of 43%. As camping continues to boom, cumulative RV sales in the first quarter of 2022 hit the highest level for the same period in five years, reaching 2,425 units. The camping industry is a key step in the transformation and upgrading of tourism. The campsite industry is still in a period of market cultivation and construction, and the overall industry is highly attractive to investors. However, incomplete supporting facilities and legal regulations have led to intense, unstandardized competition. Additionally, individual campsites and bases are still in trial stages, facing issues like poor maintenance of green spaces, inadequate restrooms, and insufficient parking. But as camping gains popularity, related policies and standards are expected to improve, gradually bringing order to the market.

● The above data and insights can be referenced in the “2022-2028 China Camping Industry Development Model Analysis and Future Prospect Planning Report” published by Zhiyan Consulting (www.chyxx.com).

● Zhiyan Consulting is a leading industry research firm in China, offering one-stop services such as in-depth industry reports, business plans, feasibility studies, and custom solutions.

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