United Kingdom
The National Caravan Council estimate that the caravan industry which includes motorhomes, touring caravans (caravans designed to be hitched to a car and towed to a site) and static caravans and mobile homes (caravans designed to be transported to a permanent site, where they are anchored to the ground) is now worth over £1bn (€1.5bn/US$1.7bn) to the UK economy alone. The manufacture of caravans alone is an industry worth in excess of £650m (€975bn/US$1.1bn). The growth in popularity of caravanning has been enhanced by improvements in caravan quality and caravan site facilities making caravan holidays possible at any time of the year not just summer months.
Theft of touring caravans was a significant problem but this has reduced in recent years. In the UK, the Association of Chief Police Officers estimates that some 1,600 touring caravans are stolen each year but this is showing a downward trend. Many caravan insurance companies require additional security features to be purchased such as wheel clamps and electronic tracking devices. The CRIS registration service has also helped track theft. In April 2010, UKCaravan.org estimated that only 4% of stolen touring caravans are recovered.
There are two main organisations that many caravanners join in the United Kingdom, the Caravan Club, established in 1907, and the Camping and Caravanning Club, established in 1901. Both clubs offer a range of services including exclusive club sites, preferential rates, advice, services such as insurance, and community activities including regional and national rallies.
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