RVs Becoming the Ultimate Travel Accessory Post-COVID
The US is slipping into what some experts are predicting may be the worst recession in generations and the first in more than a decade due to the coronavirus pandemic. Across the nation, however, Americans are ready to leave the confines of their homes after weeks of mandatory stay-at-home orders. As the public enters Phase One of the reopening, the CDC’s social distancing guidelines are still in place and limiting safe travel options for many.
People are wary of traveling on a plane, train, or cruise ship which may, or may not, be enforcing social distancing as evidenced by this packed United flight on Saturday, May 9th, which went viral after a doctor tweeted a photo of the full cabin.
I guess @united is relaxing their social distancing policy these days? Every seat full on this 737 pic.twitter.com/rqWeoIUPqL
— Ethan Weiss (@ethanjweiss) May 9, 2020
With concerns such as these, any return to travel will most likely start with short, local trips and the RV could become the preferred vehicle for Americans seeking a return to normalcy.
This is encouraging news for the RV Industry which seen an annual decrease in sales since the all-time high of 2017. Analysts expected 2020 to follow the slow decline but remarkably, dealers are reporting a post-COVID increase in RV sales and outperforming industry expectations.
According to Craig Kirby, President of the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA), “Americans love the space and freedom of the outdoors and the enrichment that comes with living an active outdoor life. RVs not only enable this lifestyle; they also provide a self-contained existence that other forms of travel don’t allow.” He continued, “RV travel allows people to sleep in their own bed, cook gourmet meals, and control where they go… [they are] able to experience the endless range of outdoor wonders throughout the country and the freedom of independent travel that RVs offer. This includes the option to forego a campground since RVs have everything a family needs to camp remotely.”
And tumbling gas prices are only adding to the appeal.
Even celebrities are jumping on the trend and purchasing new RVs.
