Campsites call for action to tackle rising energy costs

An open letter has been written to Prime Minister Liz Truss calling for action to be taken to prevent a crisis in the caravan and camping sector.

Signed by the Caravan and Motorhome Club, the British Holiday & Home Parks Association, the National Caravan Council, and the Camping and Caravanning Club, the letter said that the rising energy prices was putting the £9.3bn of visitor spending that is created through their members at risk.

In a statement, The Caravan and Motorhome Club said: “Holiday parks and campsites generate £9.3bn in visitor expenditure equating to £5.3bn Gross Value Added (GVA), and support over 170,000 FTE jobs across Britain.”

It warned the rise in utilities is threatening the sector, leaving sites and other businesses spread across the camping and caravanning sector under pressure.

The organisations are now calling for “urgent actions from the Government on energy costs and a reduction in VAT.”

The director general of the Caravan and Motorhome Club, Nick Lomas, said: “We urge the Prime Minister to ease the burden of spiralling utility costs and to reduce VAT.”

He added: “Club members spend £420m annually in the local rural tourism economy when on holiday.

“This is money spent on shopping, eating out, visitor attractions, fuel etc.

“This is such an important sector for the UK economy and, equally as important, leisure vehicle and camping holidays enable people to spend time in the great outdoors with its numerous physical and mental wellbeing benefits.

“Holidays must remain affordable for everyone.

“We are proud to be part of the UK’s tourism sector and recognise that our Club and members are an essential part of the UK economy.”

VAT levies are another factor that are hitting the parks, and preventing a level playing field with European sites, the industry says.

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