The Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA) of Canada, the Canadian Recreational Vehicle Association (CRVA) and the Canadian Camping and RV Association (CCRVA) have released their updated study, showcasing the economic impact of the Canadian RV industry.
The study, conducted by The Portage Group and Parcel Economics, showcased that in 2022 the RV sector generated an estimated 104,200 jobs and delivered $12 billion in added value to the Canadian economy from an initial expenditure of $14.3 billion.
While manufacturers and dealers contribute significantly to the total, a majority of the contribution occurs after the initial RV purchase. More specifically, expenditures associated with RV ownership and use account for 89% of the total value added to the Canadian economy.
The study also revealed that approximately 2.1 million (or 14% of) Canadian households own an RV.
In addition to the RV industry, the 2023 study also analyzed the economic impact of the camping sector. Like the RV industry, the camping sector is a significant contributor to the Canadian economy. In total, the camping sector generated an estimated 83,600 jobs and delivered $9.8 billion in added value to the Canadian economy from an initial expenditure of $12.2 billion in 2022.
Of the two major components measured, camping trips (tourism) is by far the biggest accounting for 84% of the total value added to the Canadian economy. The study results indicate that 4.4 million Canadian households took at least one overnight camping trip in 2022. Moreover, Canadians spent a total of 93.3-million-person trips nights on camping trips in 2022. Further, these trips resulted in an estimated $9.8 billion in initial spending.
With RV owners reporting that over three-quarters (77%) of their RV trips are to a campground, RVing and camping are clearly very much linked together. Combining the RV industry and camping sector generated an estimated 141,400 jobs and delivered $16.2 billion in added value to the Canadian economy from an initial expenditure of $19.8 billion in 2022. A combined $7.6 billion was paid out to government revenues.
The complete study can be found on the RVDA of Canada website.
