Caravan & Camping Sites in France - Market Size, Industry Analysis, Trends and Forecasts (2025-2029)

Caravan & Camping Sites in France industry analysis

Caravan and camping sites in France are popular alternatives to hotels and other holiday accommodation. The wide array of location options attracts a considerable domestic clientele, from couples and families to individual enthusiasts and groups, with campsites offering an affordable outdoor experience tailored to various budgets and preferences. The growing popularity of relaxing outdoor trips and outdoor leisure activities has boosted revenue. Revenue is expected to climb at a compound annual rate of 9.6% over the five years through 2025 to reach €4.2 billion, including a projected 2.1% hike in 2025.
France’s significant domestic tourism market creates lucrative revenue opportunities for campsites. The country’s diverse landscape adds to the appeal of caravan and camping retreats, attracting domestic and international travellers. Private equity investment has marked the industry, with leading companies leveraging external funding to expand their capacity and market share organically and through acquisitions. The closure of campsites and travel bans amid the COVID-19 pandemic decimated revenue in 2020. Campsites fared better than hotels and other holiday accommodations during the pandemic pressures in 2020 and 2021 as they rely more on domestic tourism and many French consumers opted for domestic holidays as international travel bans remained in place for longer. Recovering international tourism and surging domestic travel underpinned revenue recovery in 2022. Recent inflationary pressures have constrained consumer spending, limiting campsite occupancy and revenue over the two years through 2024. As inflation normalises and consumer sentiment picks up, higher consumer spending on retreats fuels revenue growth in 2025.
Revenue is forecast to expand at a compound annual rate of 1.5% over the five years through 2030 to €4.5 billion. Rising tourism numbers driven by improving economic conditions and expanding site capacity will support spending on campsites. Rising disposable incomes and demand for memorable experiences will push campsites to diversify and upgrade facilities, with glamping set to remain popular. Private equity investment will likely continue, enabling campsites to upgrade their facilities and expand capacity to meet growing consumer demand. Implementing green initiatives and digital solutions will allow campsites to be more competitive, attracting domestic and international guests and enhancing the customer experience.

Trends and Insights

• Camping and caravan holidays are popular in Europe. They’re seen as a cost-effective and eco-friendly alternative to traditional hotel stays. Despite COVID-19 challenges, the sector has shown resilience and benefitted from a rebound in domestic tourism.
• Strong domestic tourism supports demand for static caravan parks. Domestic tourist numbers have recovered faster than international tourism, with heightened economic uncertainty encouraging consumers to take domestic trips over holidays abroad.
• The industry is highly fragmented. Many caravan and camping sites operate in Europe, many of which are small. Some larger companies are expanding their operations in scenic locations and up-and-coming destinations.