Interest in caravans has surged by half due to the crisis, offering the cheapest holiday option with prices starting from 100 TL per day. This year, the number of caravan users in Turkey has reached up to 4,000, and it is expected to reach 10,000 within two years.

Due to the crisis, caravans, which were previously used only by enthusiasts in Turkey, have become the center of attention for those who cannot allocate much money for vacations.

The demand for caravans, which provide affordable holiday opportunities with daily rentals starting from 100 TL, has increased by 50% compared to the previous year. It is predicted that the number of caravan users in Turkey, currently standing at 4,000, will reach 10,000 within two years.

Ali Çolak, the General Manager of Soyut Karavan, which has the largest market share in Turkey with an annual production of one thousand caravans, stated that holidaying with a caravan does not impose any additional expenses. He mentioned that the cost of a one-week vacation for a family of four, by renting a caravan, is around 800 TL on average.

Çolak stated that those who experience the joy of holidaying with a caravan can't easily give it up, and many people who rent caravans immediately start planning to buy one. He said, "In Turkey, there has been a significant interest in outdoor activities such as hiking, fishing, camping, and boar hunting, especially in recent years. Middle-aged and highly educated individuals who value their independence and are curious by nature show great interest in caravans. We are currently experiencing the liveliest season in recent times. Campsites are filled with Turkish caravans. However, while there are over one million caravans in countries like France and Germany, Turkey has only 4,000 caravans."

Çolak continued by explaining that there are currently 50 caravan camps in Turkey and added the following information:

Camp in Ankara

Çolak stated that most of these camping areas are located in the Aegean and Mediterranean regions. Until now, our camps have mostly been used by foreigners. We didn't even know what the joy of caravanning in our nature meant until recently. Now, caravanning is becoming a trend for Turks as well. Ankara is the only capital in Europe without a caravan camp. Along with the excitement of caravanning, Soyut Karavan aims to establish a camping and caravan park in Ankara to showcase its natural beauty.

"Multiplies golf tourism"

National Camping and Caravan Federation President Erdal Ötügen also pointed out that the Ministry of Tourism does not have enough focus on alternative tourism such as caravanning. He stated, "The sector's size in the EU has reached up to 50 billion dollars, providing employment for 170,000 people. Even if we could capture five percent of the European market, it would be sufficient. This revenue would bring at least twice as much as golf tourism."

Artist Volkan Konak, known for his passion for caravans, prefers to rent a caravan instead of staying in hotels during his international concerts.

It starts from 12,000 TL

The prices of caravans vary according to their size. For example, a model with a body length of 3 meters 10 cm has a sales price of 12,000 TL, while those with an area of 20-30 square meters range from 30,000 to 60,000 TL. The prices of motor caravans can go up to 140,000 TL. On the other hand, with the increase in TV series productions in recent years, there has been a need for caravans with different concepts. Industry players have accelerated the production of multi-purpose caravans such as makeup, office, and laboratory units to meet this demand.

Murat Gülderen/Cumhuriyet

http://www.patronlardunyasi.com/haber/Karavan-tutkusu-artiyor/110601