Eyes on the homefront

In China, RVs are favored by consumers. A total of 12,582 RVs were sold in China in 2021, a year-on-year increase of 43.2 percent. Meanwhile, 3,543 trailers were sold over the same period, according to statistics released by the China Automobile Dealers Association.

The International RV and Camping Expo held in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, in June attracted over 100 companies. During the four-day expo, more than 300 RVs were sold.

"There is a big potential to develop the domestic RV market as more and more people would like to experience RV tours," Liu said.

This past summer, more than 20 campers at a campsite along the coastline in Rongcheng were fully booked for several months, showcasing that RV-themed tourism is welcomed by tourists, he said.

Rongcheng also has a few projects in its development plans to boost the RV industry, including the building of an international campsite and holding an international conference on RV tourism.

The RV market is supported by national policies. The 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) for the development of cultural and tourism sectors calls for creating an overall RV-centric tourism industrial chain and building new campsites and tourist centers.

"More camping sites need to be established in our country to provide convenient services for people, such as facilities used to charge and get water," said Liu.

"RV demand will increase with more campsites and support facilities being built in the near future," he added.