01.01.2021-31.12.2021
Camping trips have been growing in popularity among German vacationers for years. By catering to vacation preferences such as individuality and a connection to nature, this type of travel has gained even more popularity during the pandemic.
The German Institute for Tourism Research has examined various aspects of camping demand in Germany in three independent research projects to date, with the aim of gaining insights into this growing segment. This section describes the first study, conducted in 2021 (see the studies from 2022 and 2024).
The objective of the first study in 2021 was to gain insights into Germans’ camping travel habits and interest in camping during the COVID-19 pandemic. Particular attention was paid to distinguishing between “new campers”—those who went camping for the first time during the pandemic—and “experienced campers” who had already been camping before the pandemic.
In an online survey conducted by the Institut respondi AG in November/December 2021, a total of 13,579 people aged 18 and older living in German-speaking private households in Germany were surveyed. Among them were n = 1,889 campers (including n = 1,592 experienced campers and n = 297 first-time campers) as well as n = 6,480 people interested in camping within the next 3 years.
The questionnaire covered the following aspects:
The key findings of the studies are summarized in a results report.
