Permanent accommodation (mobile homes) is gradually replacing tents and caravans in campsites in France. Do you confirm the gradual disappearance of bare sites?
Lawrence Moise: “Yes. In general, there are more bare pitches, there are 400,000 (tents and caravans) compared to 275,000 rental accommodation, but it is decreasing from year to year. The movement is clearly in favour of mobile homes where the occupancy rate is higher. The move towards permanent accommodation started about thirty years ago, offering the possibility of camping without having to own your own equipment. After mobile homes, we saw the emergence of unusual accommodation such as tents or tree houses, but these remain only stories.
“Most campsites offer pitches and rental accommodation, but some have chosen to offer rental accommodation only. In Maine-et-Loire there is a campsite that no longer has a single pitch for tents or caravans, the Domaine de la Brèche, in Varennes-sur-Loire. Since its merger with Marvella Parks (Homer Group) last year, it has become 100% mobile. The Capfun group, which has two campsites in the department in Brissac-Loire-Aubanse and Cholet, is also moving towards this goal.”
Are campsite customers the same as they were ten or twenty years ago?
“The audience has diversified because the offer has diversified. The emergence of major players has transformed the sector. Today, some are attracting customers who have never been camping before by offering high-end services. This is the case of Hutopia (located in Angers and Saumur) or Humer. You get a dishwasher, a jacuzzi, air conditioning and a bed made every morning. When there is heating, it allows the campsite to extend its pre-season and late season.
“For the popular categories, it is more complicated, the offer is a little less, and the municipal campsites are losing ground, being bought up little by little by the big operators. A large number of campsites want to attract customers who will consume. For the less wealthy and for young people, it is not always easy to find the right offer. As for the holiday campsites, now it is the turn of the cross and the sign to find the campsite. »
Do campsites in Maine and Loire have any special features?
“In the department, it is mainly the campsites in the Loire Valley that are driving attendance. Clients don’t necessarily come to the campsite itself, but to stroll along the Loire or visit the castles. This is not the same as for the coastal campsites in Maine-et-Loire, outside the more touristy areas, I noticed about ten years ago that we have a fairly regular clientele.”
