The sanitary restrictions that Brazil adopted from of March 2020 to try to slow down the spread of the new coronavirus among the population resulted in behavioral changes. Some were being left aside as time passed and the number of serious cases of covid-19 decreased, but others seem to to have gained strength, as the greater interest of people in the so-called Tourism of Proximity, characterized by trips Sunroad stretches of up to 300 kilometers.
Identified by the Ministry of Tourism (MTur) and the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) just last year, the trend remains firm and is associated with two other tourist practices that are growing in the country: camping and caravanning.
According to research carried out by specialists from the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC) and technicians from the MTur, proximity tourism helped in the resumption of leisure trips, while the search for trailers and motorhomes increased during the health crisis, giving travelers more freedom to set travel itineraries and schedules.
In the report to which Brazil Agency had access in advance, experts point out that, after an awareness-raising action, the number of tourist camps registered in the Registry of Tourist Service Providers (Cadastur) grew by 36%, from 465 establishments to 632 between December 2021 and the end of June 2022.
Tourist camps and parking lots able to receive campers and caravans are considered essential support areas for structuring these tourist activities. And, even if part of the enterprises that were registered with the Cadastur during the first six months of this year already worked before the Ministry of Tourism made efforts to convince them to do so, the conclusion that there was growth is corroborated by the president of the most important camping and caravanning fair in Brazil, the Preview Expo MotorhomeAlexandre Boff.
growing interest
In an interview with Brazil AgencyBoff said that while ten years ago the few manufacturers of motorhomes produced about ten vehicles a month, today there are small and medium-sized producers scattered throughout the country and monthly national production exceeds 500 units. According to him, the interest of Brazilians in these real houses on wheels has been growing for decades, but gained momentum amid the pandemic.
The report produced by specialists from UFSC and the Ministry of Tourism points out that most manufacturers of motorhomes?? trailers and trailers in the country is still concentrated in the South region, where camping and, mainly, caravanning is more common. The specialists also evaluated the existing transport infrastructure in 30 tourist routes considered strategic and which, together, cover 128 cities in all 26 states, plus the Federal District.
The analysis of the infrastructure included, among other things, the conditions of the existing bus terminals along the tourist routes, as well as the existing services in these terminals.
In possession of all the information, specialists from UFSC and MTur listed what they consider to be the main challenges to the popularization of camping and caravanning, such as the need for more investments in the creation of support structures for travelers – one of the main demands of the representatives of the sector.
One of the specialists’ suggestions is that the public authorities establish commitments to be fulfilled by concessionaires of highways and national parks. Specifically in relation to the implementation of Road Traveler Support Points (PAVs), the technicians highlight eight criteria that they consider important to be considered in future projects: reception, connectivity, accessibility, ease of payments, energy efficiency, sustainability, appreciation of culture and of local communities and facilities for those traveling with pets.
Still in relation to road infrastructure, the report adds the suggestion that support points and spaces intended for travelers and tourists be signaled differently from those reserved for truck drivers, for technical and legal reasons.
Experts also point out the importance of making credit and financing lines available for the acquisition and adaptation of recreational vehicles, tents and support equipment – either for private use or for rent.
They suggest that these resources may come from the Fundo Geral do Turismo (Fungetur), a credit mechanism with pre-defined rates and lower than market rates that the Ministry of Tourism offers to those who provide tourist services and are registered with the Cadastur.
lack of information
Another aspect highlighted is the need to resolve the inconsistency of data on camping and caravanning. According to the authors of the report, the lack of reliable information “impairs the understanding and characterization of the two segments and, consequently, of the challenges, needs and possibilities for the development and structuring, as well as the formulation of public policies and actions to encourage these practices”.
Finally, the experts endorse proposals that the representatives of Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay already discussed in November 2021, during a meeting to discuss joint actions to be implemented along the so-called Bioceanic Road Corridor, which connects the five countries, connecting the Pacific and Atlantic oceans in order to encourage trade and road tourism.
In addition to holding an international seminar and creating a technical group made up of representatives from the five countries, the report cites the need for governments to encourage the training of tourist service providers along the Bioceánico Corridor in the Spanish language, the dissemination of attractions and tourist destinations and the facilities for the transit of people and vehicles.
