Enthusiasts ready to go on motorhoming holidays

With the 1 May holiday, the motorhome population is ready to get going and kick off their travels for the 2026 summer season. In Europe, motorhome holidays bring together some 20 million tourists using 6.5 million recreational vehicles, while the average spend is 200 euros per day. The Bel Paese welcomes them with the specialised receptivity of about 2,600 enterprises to which should be added the data of agricamping and rest areas. In 2025, almost 8 thousand motorhomes were registered, +10.6% over the previous year. This is little compared to the more than 161 thousand vehicles registered throughout Europe, a substantially stable number, while in Italia interest is growing at a much faster pace. Among other things, from 2014 to date annual registrations have more than doubled from 3,718 to 7,936 vehicles (+113%). Added to this is an expanding second-hand market (+6.05%) according to data from the Association of Caravan and Motorhome Manufacturers (Apc). Italia stands out as a protagonist of open-air tourism at a European level, a position that goes well beyond the borders of the domestic market. It is the third largest producer of recreational vehicles in Europe after Germany and France. This industrial sector employs over 8,000 direct and indirect workers engaged in fitting out vehicles, over 80% of whose production is destined for export, mainly to Germany, France and the United Kingdom.

A solid supply chain that combines manufacturing know-how and the ability to intercept a structurally growing international demand. "The motorhome also fascinates because of the many opportunities it offers to enjoy leisure time all year round: proximity tourism, weekends, bridges, sports activities. And the high level of equipment in modern motorhomes guarantees full, domestic-type comfort," explains Gianguido Cerullo, president of Apc. Interest is growing, arrivals from abroad are on the rise, and to support the sector, last September the Ministry of Tourism allocated 25.7 million euros for the construction of almost 4,500 new lay-bys in 170 municipalities: an initiative that is expected to generate annual operating revenues of 267 million euros and a long-term economic impact of more than 373 million euros. Thus, Italia ranks first in Europe for growth in registrations, second as a tourist destination after Spain, and third for production capacity. On the events front, the Camper Show in Parma is the leading sector event in Italia and second in Europe. This year it will take place between 12 and 20 September and is organised in cooperation with the Caravan and Motorhome Manufacturers Association. In Parma one can discover the latest novelties in caravans and motorhomes as well as accessories and products to make the vehicle more comfortable and the holiday enjoyable. In the 110,000 square metres of exhibition area last year, 600 vehicles were on display, more than 310 exhibitors from 22 countries met more than 107,000 visitors. "What we will see in Parma from 12 to 20 September is not a range update, but the story of an industry that is changing its skin," emphasises Antonio Cellie, Managing Director of Fiere di Parma. "More technology, more sustainability, more people choosing this way of experiencing leisure time. The recreational vehicle of 2026 is a living project on the move, designed for those who have chosen slow travel as a form of wellbeing. This year this becomes concrete, to be seen and to be chosen. And the numbers for 2025 already give the measure: 8.5 billion euro, 74 million presences per year for open-air holidays. A trend that even in 2026 does not seem to be slowing down".

According to the CEO, the recreational vehicle of 2026 is a living project on the move: design, technology and sustainability converge to redefine the travel experience. The trends point in a precise direction: more and more comfort, more standard equipment, more technology and a growing polarisation between those who seek the ultimate in luxury and those who favour compact, agile and accessible vehicles. Vehicles can be compact or premium. The Italia market shows a certain tendency towards polarisation. On the one hand, demand for compact vehicles is consolidating: vans, which in Italia account for almost 40% of the market, according to Apc data, and new-generation compact models, increasingly focused on comfort, design and rationalisation of space. On the other hand, there is a marked growth in the premium segment with semi-integrated vehicles, overcabs and luxury motorhomes equipped with large garages, spa bathrooms and advanced home automation systems. The off-road offer is also growing, with 4x4 vans and semi-integrated vehicles - many of which can be driven with a B licence - opening up the market to lovers of adventure and off-road routes in every season.

The 2026 fittings seem to go beyond the logic of compromise to embrace that of design: every inch is studied, every solution aims at flexibility, every room adapts more naturally to the needs of the moment. The day is lived in a bright open space, with an integrated kitchen and modular convivial area; the night retreats to cosy, quiet and well-insulated rooms. The materials speak the language of contemporary quality: hard-wearing surfaces where robustness is needed, well-cared-for fabrics where comfort counts, calibrated lighting for different atmospheres at different times of day. The veranda projects the space for conviviality outside and becomes an additional lounge. The vehicle offers a well-organised storage compartment to simplify logistics, while an equipped roof provides a vantage point. The philosophy of slow travel - to stop and feel at home anywhere - finds its most concrete expression in these new outdoor spaces, in a trend that cuts across all types, from the compact van to the long-distance motorhome. The desire for leisure activities places bike carriers and alternative mobility systems such as electric bikes, scooters and kayaks among the most popular products, transforming the recreational vehicle into an operational base for exploring the territory. These are flanked by advanced safety solutions, water filtration systems and products for customised interior and exterior spaces.