Pitching the Value - An economic impact and benefits assessment of the Holiday Park and Campsite Sector in the UK

Call to all Holiday Park and Campsite Owners and Operators: We need your help and input to this 
important research.

The UK Caravan and Camping Alliance (UKCCA) is an umbrella group from the holiday park and campsite sector comprising the National Caravan Council (NCC), the British Holiday and Home Parks Association (BH&HPA), the Caravan and Motorhome Club and The Camping and Caravanning Club. 

The Alliance has jointly agreed to commission and fund a reassessment of the economic impact and benefits 
of holidays taken in all forms of accommodation on holiday parks and campsites in the UK.

UKCCA first released Pitching the Value, a ground-breaking economic benefit report on the sector, back in early 2019, which report then demonstrated that UK holiday parks and campsites made a substantial contribution to the UK tourism economy, generating £9.3bn in visitor expenditure, (equivalent to £5.3bn GVA), while supporting 171,448 FTE jobs. 

The 2019 report not only generated considerable media coverage but also proved immensely helpful to the sector in terms of attracting investment and providing opportunities for growth, development and creating new jobs. The 2019 study reports can be found at www.ukcca.org.uk. 

In the intervening years much has changed in the holiday park and campsite sector and we want to ensure the updated study reflects this, along with the impact of both the pandemic and the ongoing cost of living crisis. 

The study will also consider other relevant aspects, including health and social wellbeing, consumer demographics, sustainability and environmental benefits.

UKCCA is pleased to engage Bob Hill Leisure Consultancy (BHLC) to manage and coordinate this important research project and economic research specialists Frontline Consultants will undertake the study. Suzanne Hamilton a Director from Frontline who will lead the research commented: “Frontline is pleased to continue to support the Alliance in this important research. Having led the previous study, it will allow us to build on its impact, ensuring a consistent approach that will benefit the sector and its wider supply chain.”

The study hinges on two key areas of research during 2023: holiday and campsite owner/operator surveys and visitor surveys. We will reach out to as many holiday parks and campsites as possible across every corner of the UK to ensure that the results benefit from as much current relevant data available.

Bob Hill from BHLC commented: “The success of this exercise relies entirely on the active participation and input from holiday park and campsite owners/operators on two counts:

1)    completing the owner/operator survey as fully as possible (it’s pretty straightforward); and
2)   promoting the visitor survey to guests and encouraging them to complete it.”

Bob added: “high levels of participation will produce compelling evidence to ensure key influencers and decision-makers support the development and growth of our industry at a national, regional and individual business level, so I urge all holiday park and campsite owners/operators to 
get involved.” The results will be published in early 2024.

For more information please email policy@thencc.org.uk or bob@ bobhillleisureconsultancy.co.uk