Since COVID-19, Everyone Becomes a 'Campini'... Camping Gear Purchases Up 70%

4 out of 10 people started after 2020

Lime Camping Experience Survey Infographic. (Photo by Lotte Members)

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] Lotte Members announced on the 24th that according to a survey conducted by the research platform Lime on 600 camping experiencers, 43.5% of respondents started camping after COVID-19.

Respondents who started camping before 2017 accounted for 37.2%, and those who started between 2018 and 2019 accounted for 19.3%. Analysis of Lotte Members' transaction data also showed that the purchase amount of camping supplies at Lotte distribution channels increased by 70.7% in 2021 compared to 2019.

The camping item with the highest purchase experience was tables and chairs (70.8%). This was followed by lanterns and lighting (67.5%), tents (65.2%), cooking utensils and tableware (61.8%), Bluetooth speakers (57.7%), sleeping bags (55.8%), cooling and heating products (45.0%), tarps and shelters (39.2%), and poles, pegs, and strings (39.2%), in that order of response rate.

The most common annual camping frequency was "less than 5 times," with 66.7% of respondents. "5 to less than 10 times" accounted for 19.5%, "10 to less than 15 times" 11.8%, "15 to less than 20 times" 1.7%, and "20 times or more" 0.3%. The most common camping style was "auto camping (camping by loading your own equipment in a car)" with a response rate of 35.5%, but a significant number of respondents also chose "glamping (enjoying camping easily with equipment provided at the campsite)" at 27%, or "campnic (a light day trip camping)" at 15.8%.

Barbecue was the main activity enjoyed during camping (97.7%). The grilled ingredients varied widely, including pork belly and neck meat (71.3%), steak and ribs such as beef and lamb (34.3%), skewers (31.7%), and seafood (31.2%). Camping companions were mainly family members such as children and parents (40.3%), partners/spouses (27.3%), and friends (20.7%). Only a small number responded that they camp alone (3.5%), or with groups/meetings (4%) or coworkers (4%). The survey was conducted from the 28th of last month to the 1st of this month on 600 adult men and women in their 20s to 50s nationwide who have camping experience, with a sampling error of ±4% at a 95% confidence level.

A Lotte Members official said, "Since the spread of COVID-19, as more people seek to avoid closed, crowded, and close-contact environments and spend quiet time with family, friends, and partners in nature, camping sites nationwide are bustling every weekend. The camping supplies market is also rapidly growing, but since there are still many casual campers who go occasionally rather than heavy campers, functional equipment and meal kits that make camping easy are popular."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.