The camper market continues to grow thanks to new registrations, a good used market, and rental requests. A combination of factors that make the Italian market more vibrant than the European average, to the full advantage of the industrial supply chain oriented towards export. July set a record with 819 campers registered, an increase of 51.9% year-on-year. This confirms and strengthens a trend already emerging in 2025, when 7,936 new campers were registered in Italy over 12 months, 10.56% more than the previous year. In the same period, ownership transfers also increased by 6.05%: between new and used, Italians had purchased more than 44,000 campers in total. Growth continued in the first four months of 2026: between January and April, Italian motorhome registrations reached 4,050 units, compared to 3,523 in the same period in 2025, an increase of 14.96%.
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“A camper holiday meets the needs for personalized experiences: it is a freer, more flexible, and adaptable way of traveling,” explains Gloria Oppici, brand manager of the Camper Show to be held in Parma from September 12 to 20. “It allows you to choose times and itineraries, reach authentic places far from large crowds, and manage expenses along the travel route, enriching local communities. The growth in registrations confirms that this form of holiday is a key component for the growth of Italian tourism.”
The European comparison makes the vitality of the Italian market even more evident. In the first four months of 2026, camper registrations in Europe increased by 10%, rising from 58,539 to 64,406 units: a significant progress, compared to which Italy showed, thanks to 4,050 vehicles registered, a growth almost five percentage points higher. Italy is the third largest European camper producer, after Germany and France, and exports over 80% of the vehicles produced. The main European market remains Germany, which in 2025 recorded 75,368 new registrations, over 46% of the European total. However, production is supported not only by manufacturers: the supply chain includes companies specialized in chassis, components, accessories, fittings, and services for recreational vehicles. The same Apc-Association of Caravan and Camper Producers – brings together Italian and foreign companies active along these different production phases, while Italian components supply both national and European brands.
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The impact on the territory of tourists choosing camper holidays is significant: several studies indicate that the average daily expenditure of two people in a camper is just under 200 euros, distributed among parking and overnight stays, catering, local food and wine products and crafts, museums, public transport, and more.
The sector’s growth is fueled by many new enthusiasts who perhaps try a rental vehicle for a long weekend in a camper or caravan for the first few times, embracing the model of use before ownership favored by new generations. The Camper Show in Parma is the most important sector event in Italy and the second in Europe, covering an exhibition area of over 110,000 square meters hosting more than 310 exhibitors with 600 recreational vehicles displayed in 13 different areas for events and experiential activities. The last edition was visited by over 107,000 attendees. The Show thus becomes the meeting point between curiosity and practical choice. Not only for experienced campers but also for those who want to understand if this way of traveling suits them: comparing vans, campers, and caravans, discovering accessories, technologies, destinations, parking areas, rental services, and outdoor itineraries. The European context confirms that camping and caravanning now have significant weight: according to Eurostat, in 2025 nights spent in campsites, recreational vehicle areas, and trailer parks in the EU reached 413 million; Italy is among the main European countries, with 49.1 million nights. In this framework, the Show represents a gateway for those wishing to approach itinerant tourism: not only experienced campers but also curious people, families, and first-time travelers.
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