Italy’s leading outdoor tourism trade fair Il Salone del Camper – Caravans, Accessories, Routes and Destinations, will take place at Fiere di Parma from 12 to 20 September.
Campervan holidays are a growing trend
Open to both professionals and the general public this is one of the world’s leading trade fairs dedicated to caravanning and outdoor tourism, and is the most important trade fair in the sector in Italy and the second largest in Europe, attracting over 107,000 visitors. For attendees the event will be an opportunity to explore an alternative way of travelling, keep up to date with the latest trends and services, and compare the vehicles on display, as well as discovering the latest technologies. Campervan holidays are a growing trend, increasingly popular for the convenience they offer, the freedom they provide when travelling, and their environmental sustainability.
Authentic landscapes and freedom to explore
Road travel represents a practical alternative, and motorhomes and caravans allow for greater freedom and more flexible itineraries. In the "Your Travel Style" survey conducted by the Salone del Camper, travelling by motorhome and caravan emerged as the dominant choice: 93 per cent of respondents opted for it. This preference is driven primarily by the search for authentic landscapes, cited by 75 per cent, and the freedom to explore, which was a decisive factor for 69 per cent.
74 million visitor nights in 2025
Road trips are on the rise, thanks in part to an increasingly well-developed network of services, with a growing number of waste disposal and refuelling points, electrical hook-ups, charging points, bicycle parking facilities and connections across the whole country. According to FAITA Federcamping, HBenchmark and CISET Ca’ Foscari, in 2025 Italian open-air travel reached 74 million visitor nights, with a total direct and indirect economic value of €8.5 billion. This form of travel is also more sustainable. The study “Motorhome Tourism: the Economic and Environmental Impact of Motorhome Travellers”, carried out by Ergo, a spin-off of the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa, indicates that recreational vehicles have a lower environmental impact than traditional travel, with a 70% reduction in CO₂, a 64% reduction in fossil fuel consumption and a 73% reduction in water consumption. For information: www.salonedelcamper.it
