Happy camping at outdoors show

(Reisen Hamburg)

In our recession hit world, camping, caravaning or RV and active holidays are on the rise, providing a fertile market at one of the largest outdoors tourism shows in Europe.

In America, camping reservations for the first half of 2009 rose eight percent from 2008. In the UK, the National Caravan Council reported that the number of caravan or RV/motorhome holidays taken in 2009 was up by 24 percent. It seems that when faced with skyrocketing hotel rates and exorbitant airline charges, holidaymakers can't wait to get back to nature.

All good news, then, for the International Tourism and Caravanning exhibition which kicks off in Hamburg next week. This year the focus of the show will be "active holidays" and "cycling tours", giving the 900-odd exhibitors some fairly broad parameters to work with. Tourism representatives from countries around the world, including the US, China, Thailand and the Caribbean, will be flying in to show off the best that their countries has to offer the outdoors type.

Organizers have tried to cater to the needs of every nature-loving traveler. For those wanting a taste of their next hiking holiday in the middle of Berlin, there will be a rope garden, climbing wall "rustic test track", so that potential footwear buyers can test-drive their new hiking boots before purchase. For avid cyclists, there will be a themed area featuring tour maps and specialized equipment. And for those who like their outdoors a little less green, representatives of every outdoor pursuit from camel trekking to Arctic cruises will be on hand.

True to its name, the exhibition offers plenty for tourists who like their hotel attached to their car. Caravaning is big business in Europe - 132,644 recreational vehicles were sold in Europe in 2009, and that was a bad year. In 2008, nearly 167,000 were sold, so consumer demand is expected to pick up this year. Amongst the displays of new caravans and accessories, organizers promise plenty of information on camping sites, parking areas and "caravan-friendly' routes. Again, representatives from all over the world will be on hand to tout their roads as the best to drive a motorhome down.

The show runs February 10-14 (10:00 AM to 6:00 PM) and costs €8.50 for adults.

Website: www.reisenhamburg.de

Europe's Top Five Caravan buyers in 2009
Data from the European Caravan Federation

1. Germany
2. UK
3. France
4. Netherlands
5. Italy