The summer holidays have also started in Brabant, but how will the people of Brabant go on holiday this year? Are they looking for the sweltering costas or do they prefer to enjoy the summer weather in their own province? Do they opt for a luxuriously furnished tent or for a spot at, for example, a neighborhood campsite with people from their own neighborhood or district?
There are no exact figures, but Arthur van Disseldorp knows for sure: “People from Brabant and Limburg most often go on holiday in their own province. That’s a good sign.”
Van Disseldorp is regional manager of Recron, a branch organization for companies in the recreation sector. According to him, people are waiting longer and longer to book a holiday. “They take into account, for example, the high temperatures in southern Europe, more expensive flying holidays or hassle at the airport. For many people, those tropical temperatures are no longer necessary. They then decide to take the car and rent something at a campsite or bungalow park in Brabant, a maximum of a few hours’ drive from home.”
More overnight stays
He sees different holiday trends. Where people used to have their own holiday home, for example, all kinds of accommodations are now rented en masse. “That varies from simple accommodations to the most luxurious glamping tents.” Glamping is a combination of ‘glamor’ and ‘camping’ and stands for camping with a lot of comfort and luxury.
In the past, holidaymakers made their destination dependent on the facilities at a campsite. “Nowadays it is the other way around. For example, people in Den Bosch want to go to the Binnendieze or a festival and link a place to sleep to it. Daytime recreation such as amusement parks, cities, events or visits to nature reserves are increasingly linked to a stay of one or more days. You used to go home after an event or festival, but now there is often a campsite to spend the night.”
More often, but shorter
Recron also notices that many people go on holiday more often, but shorter. “For example, three weeks a year instead of three weeks once. That affects the travel time. That is why they choose a destination that is closer to home.”
According to Van Disseldorp, the number of campers in our province is still growing. “It ensures that the season lasts longer. With a camper you don’t necessarily have to go on holiday with the construction industry. They often stay in their own province and visit a city.”
Recron had expected that people would go abroad en masse after the corona period. “That turns out to be wrong. There are many people who stay in Brabant. They have rediscovered how beautiful the province is. For example, there is a lot of interest in the nature reserves, such as the Loonse and Drunense Duinen.”
Neighborhood campsites
The neighborhood campsite for people with a tight budget is also on the rise. The Netherlands has about 65 this year, in Brabant in Breda, Tilburg, Eindhoven and Den Bosch, among others. “It is a very nice phenomenon. On the one hand, it concerns people who are sometimes short of cash, on the other hand, there has been a great need for social contacts since corona. People want to have a chat with their neighbors or fellow residents. It is a good initiative and it is also the revival for camping.”
Despite the higher prices, people still find holidays important. “We won’t just give up on that, even though everything has become more expensive,” says Van Disseldorp. “Then people say: ‘We would actually go to Italy, but it is so hot that we should stay in our own country. Moreover, it is cheaper, although the price differences between the Netherlands and other holiday countries are not that great anymore.’