French campsite revenues have surged to nearly 4.7 billion euros after mobile home accommodations reshaped the outdoor tourism sector, according to industry officials.
The sector recorded 125 million overnight stays in France during 2025, with 60 percent of those stays occurring on equipped pitches dominated by prefabricated mobile units.
During the peak August 15 holiday weekend, summer tourism reached its height across France. One out of two French citizens who reserve paid holiday accommodation during the summer season choose campsites.
First imported into France from England during the 1970s, the mobile home evolved from a niche holiday option into a structural pillar of French domestic tourism.
Nicolas Dayot, president of the National Federation of Outdoor Hotel Industry (FNHPA), stated that the widespread arrival of mobile homes metamorphosed the entire business sector starting in the 1990s. Dayot, who operates two campsite properties in the western French departments of Morbihan and Finistère in Brittany, explained that the units allowed operators to attract an entirely new customer base. He noted that camping resembles mountain activities, where adults rarely begin the practice if they did not experience it during their youth.
Revenue growth and resort amenities
Unlike traditional canvas tents or towed caravans, mobile homes provide structural shelter against unpredictable weather conditions. This weather resilience enabled holiday parks to extend their operational season each year, significantly increasing booking capacity and overall visitor volume. Consequently, total campsite revenues in France jumped from 800 million euros in the year 2000 to nearly 4.7 billion euros today.
Dayot pointed out that campsite operators owe this financial growth in large part to mobile homes. The predictable revenue model helped build financial credibility with commercial banks, enabling park owners to secure funding for complex resort infrastructure. Facilities such as swimming pools, water slides, and full-service dining areas, which were previously unaffordable for independent sites, became standard features across French holiday parks.
Major commercial chains, including Cap Fun and Yelloh! Village, spearheaded this market transformation. Fifteen years ago, equipped pitches accounted for 29 percent of all campsite offerings in France. Today, equipped pitches make up nearly 50 percent of the total market supply.
Tensions with traditional campers
The rapid expansion of equipped pitches has created friction across the sector. Unequipped bare pitches for traditional tent campers have lost ground, drawing frustration from long-standing holidaymakers. In parallel, some year-round mobile home owners report feeling pushed out by park management in favor of summer tourist rentals, which yield significantly higher profit margins.
Fabienne Yobé, general director of the French Federation of Campers, Caravanners and Motorhome Owners (FFCC), recently detailed the sharp pricing disparities in comments to consumer magazine 60 Millions de Consommateurs. Yobé stated that during high season, the average weekly rental for a standard four to five person mobile home starts at approximately 336 euros at one-star campsites and reaches 1,600 euros at five-star resorts, with some luxury accommodations priced even higher.
In contrast, bare pitches remain far less expensive. Weekly rates range from 190 to 210 euros at three-star campsites, which form the largest segment of sites in France, and between 315 and 420 euros per week at five-star locations. Yobé noted that amidst squeezed household purchasing power, this cost difference fueled a 4.8 percent increase in bare pitch attendance last year, according to FNHPA data.
European leadership and industry trajectory
Despite the modest rebound in traditional pitch bookings, industry leaders maintain that the upward trajectory of mobile homes remains intact. France ranks as the primary manufacturer of mobile homes in Europe and leads the continent in overall campsite numbers, hosting approximately 7,500 registered locations.
Dayot concluded that the industry is currently undergoing a period of continued structural refinement, adding that commercial momentum across the sector remains strong.
Broader market debate and holidaymaker reactions
Addressing the social impact of the trend, sociologist of leisure Olivier Sirost described mobile home camping as a functional substitute for a secondary holiday home, offering families vacation property access without lifelong financial obligations.
Other operators have attempted to balance luxury features with traditional camping values. In the Pyrenees region near the Spanish border, some holiday parks operate like small Club Med villages, providing premium cottages alongside caravans and tents in an effort to maintain an authentic atmosphere. However, a collective of campsite managers voiced concern over industry trends, stating they did not want to be the generation of operators that saw real camping disappear. Industry analysis also highlights that purchasing a mobile home to generate rental income is not necessarily a profitable business move, framing it as a leisure expense rather than a guaranteed investment.
The commercial shift toward outdoor hotel resorts has ignited debate among holidaymakers. One regular campsite visitor, commenting under the username Latetehaute, remarked that modern holiday parks no longer represent genuine camping but rather outdoor hotel establishments, advising travellers to avoid locations focused on mobile home rentals.
Another holidaymaker, identified as arsgau, expressed frustration with holiday parks where mobile units are packed closely together, forcing guests to contend with noise, shared odors, overcrowding, and heavy weekly costs. A third commenter, agricoblaziert, argued that park operators extract disproportionate profit margins relative to debatable service quality, citing crowded conditions and compulsory evening entertainment. The commenter also criticized foreign-owned automated booking platforms that take 20 percent commissions without operational risk, noting that major international corporate structures now handle and monetize 90 percent of French tourism sales.
