Recreational & Vacation Camps Industry Profile

Companies in this industry operate overnight recreational camps including vacation, wilderness, fishing, hunting, and children's camps. No major companies dominate the industry.

The number of international tourists, an indicator of demand for recreational and vacation camps, rose 7% in 2017 to reach 1.3 billion, marking the eighth consecutive year of above-average growth. Top countries for international arrivals include France, Spain, and the US. Adventure tourism, where travelers interact with local populations in an experience-based holiday, is a high-demand segment of travel.

The US recreational and vacation camps industry includes about 3,000 establishments (single-location companies and units of multi-location companies) with combined annual revenue of about $3.2 billion.

The industry does not include RV parks/campgrounds or educational camps.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Demand is driven by personal income and leisure travel. The profitability of individual companies depends on enrollment rates, efficient operations, and effective marketing. Large recreational camps have advantages in diverse amenities and brand recognition. Smaller camps compete by offering personalized experiences or by operating in prime locations. The industry is highly fragmented: the top 50 companies account for about 20% of revenue.

PRODUCTS, OPERATIONS & TECHNOLOGY

About 85% of US industry revenue comes from camp attendance fees and tuition. Other sources of income include sales of meals, snacks, souvenirs, and novelty items, as well as equipment and facility leasing.

Camps offer nightly or weekly overnight programs that cater to specific audiences, such as dude ranches, family vacation camps, youth ...