Industry leaders have launched a new project to better understand the economic impact and wider benefits of holidays taken across all forms of accommodation on UK holiday parks and campsites.
They are running two surveys – one for park owners and operators and another for visitors.
The project is being led by the UK Caravan and Camping Alliance (UKCCA), of which both HARPA and the NCC are members.
The work builds on the success of the UKCCA’s influential Pitching the Value reports (2019 and 2024), which demonstrated the sector’s enormous contribution to UK tourism.
The 2024 study found that holiday parks and campsites generated £12.2bn in visitor spending, contributed £7.2bn GVA, and supported 226,745 FTE jobs across the UK.
These findings continue to be instrumental in securing investment, shaping policy discussions, and strengthening the sector’s voice at both national and local levels. With key government decisions affecting tourism businesses now being formed, updated evidence is essential.
Park owners and operators are encouraged to complete the online survey, with the results expected in 2027.
They will include data at UK, country and regional level and will be useful to the sector as a whole, supporting lobbying and campaign activity and helping to demonstrate the sector’s wider economic contribution to policymakers and local authorities.
The findings will also be valuable to individual holiday parks and campsites when applying for planning permission. In order to make the data robust and representative we need your help and would be grateful if you would complete this survey.
Meanwhile, the UKCCA is also urging parks to encourage their guests to share their staycation experiences.
The national visitor survey examining domestic tourism comes at a time when more holidaymakers are seeking flexible, affordable and sustainable breaks closer to home, with demand for UK holidays continuing to grow and evolve.
It will gather insight into visitor expectations, travel habits and holiday experiences.
As a thank you for taking part, respondents will be entered into a prize draw to win a UK holiday. Prizes include:
• A four-night stay at Braithwaite Village Camping and Caravanning Club Site in the Lake District
• A three-night stay in Experience Freedom glamping accommodation (from the Caravan and Motorhome Club)
UKCCA spokesperson Bob Hill, of Bob Hill Leisure Consultancy, said: “Despite ongoing economic pressures and changing customer expectations, the holiday park and campsite sector remains resilient and forward-looking. Operators across the UK are continuing to invest and improve their parks, accommodation, facilities and sustainability initiatives, demonstrating their confidence in the future of domestic tourism and the enduring appeal of holiday parks and campsites.
“The sector already contributes more than £12 billion in visitor expenditure to the UK economy and supports more than 226,000 jobs, particularly in rural and coastal communities. Holiday parks and campsites are deeply rooted in the communities they serve, from supporting local employment and businesses to championing community projects and charitable initiatives, the sector plays an important role in local economies and social wellbeing.
“This research will help build a clearer picture of what today’s holidaymakers value most from UK breaks, while also highlighting the sector’s contribution to jobs, investment and regional tourism economies.”
The surveys are open now and take only a few minutes to complete.
The park owner/operator survey is at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/UKCCAWPOperator26
For the guest survey please visit: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/UKCCAPR
