Study revealed that the black travellers love to do camping, hiking and other adventure activities.
The percentage of American campers who are black rose from 6 to 8 percent between 2012 and 2017, now more closely reflecting that 13 percent of the population is black, according to the 2018 North American Camping Report from Kampgrounds of America.
In addition, about 14 percent of new campers in 2017 were black, plus 34 percent of non-white millennials said they just started camping in the past few years, compared to 18 percent of white millennials.
The Study also found that black campers were the fastest growing group of RV users. Among black campers, 27 percent said an RV was their primary accommodation in 2017, up from 19 percent the previous year. Forty percent of black campers said they tried an RV for the first time in 2017, and nearly 40 percent of all black campers who did not own an RV said they would consider buying one.
This new trend may help to combat the famous lack of diversity among National Park visitors, which the National Park Service says it’s trying to rectify. In addition, a 2017 study by Outdoor Foundation found that overall outdoor participation skewed 73 percent white and 9 percent black. The study also found that the top five activities among black outdoor participants were, in descending order: running, biking, fishing, camping, and hiking.
The social media and the sharing economy help tremendously to break down barriers for black travelers wanting to access the outdoors.
Not only can first-timers easily answer their questions online, but they can avoid the daunting cost of purchasing equipment by sharing on a site like StokeShare or renting from a retailer like REI. Alternative campsites are also increasingly available, which include cabins, glampsites, and other situations in which the camper need not bring so much gear. In terms of RVs, the demand for cheaper, smaller, less intimidating campervans, as opposed to hulking Class A motorhomes, is reflected both by sharing services like Outdoorsy and rental outfits like Jucy.
Even so, a welcoming community of black outdoor enthusiasts is just as important as solving logistical problems.
Source: travelandtourworld.com
