RV—short for recreational vehicle —was the most popular search term in 2004 among eBay’s 125 million users. A study conducted by the University of Michigan found that RVs are increasingly popular among people in midlife, with ownership rates up most among people over age 55.
That interest, which isn’t likely to abate any time soon, will have a positive ripple effect throughout the economy. Fast-food and family restaurants will reap increased sales, as will convenience stores and drive-through services. Tourist attractions will enjoy a surge in visitors, and home furnishings and consumer electronics industries will benefit as RV owners equip their homes on wheels.
A confluence of circumstances has combined to create a surge in land-based leisure travel, despite high fuel costs. Arguably, the most compelling reason for choosing land-based travel over air is lingering concerns about safety in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. But it isn’t just safety. As boomers age, healthier and wealthier than previous generations, they will have the stamina and the resources to take to the open road.
Boomer parents, eager to bond with teenage and 20-something children before they leave home, will continue to fuel the growth in the RV industry. Empty nesters will keep the momentum going, as they load up the camper to visit children and grandchildren, and to find new friends in senior-friendly climates. Later, the boomer’s children will buy RVs to give their children the same on-the-road experiences.
“RV travel fosters a sense of community, offering mature travelers a valuable network of friends who share common interests,” says a spokesperson for the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA). The association also tells us that “snowbirding has become hugely popular,” with retirees spending weeks and even months in their RVs in one spot or several. Not surprisingly, the most popular “snowbird” destinations are Florida, Arizona, Texas and Southern California.
Today, RV travel offers a level of comfort that turns road trips into luxury vacations. Ranging in price from $50,000 to more than $1 million, RVs run the gamut from “pop-top” campers with few amenities to “McMansions” on wheels. Some models offer direct broadcast satellite antennas, state-of-the-art home theaters, built-in Internet connections and global positioning systems to ensure travelers get where they’re going.
Once RV travelers arrive at their destinations, in place of the bare-bones campgrounds of the past are resort-like facilities equipped with gyms, spas, WiFi hotspots and a range of outdoor activities.
Recent surging fuel prices have done little to dampen enthusiasm for the RV way of life. Even for retirees on more modest budgets, RV travel is usually considerably less expensive than travel by air, train or personal car. Expect a surge in interest in RV rentals, too, as consumers “test drive” the idea of land-based travel.
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