Caravans cash in on celebrity factor

Celebrities are helping to encourage more people to ditch their usual holiday plans in favour of a stay in a caravan.

With holidays now more accessible and budget airlines bringing down the cost of destinations as far afield as Egypt, caravans face stiff competition.

But according to the Caravanning Club, business is booming.

The glamour factor added by celebrity caravan and motorhome enthusiasts is prompting more and more people to try it out for themselves.

"Caravans are developing a glamorous appeal," the club's Ruth Walmsley told the Reuters news agency.

"People see celebrities in motorhomes and think 'if they have all that money but are staying in a caravan instead of a five-star hotel there must be some appeal'."

The Caravanning Club picked up new fewer than 40,000 members in 2007, proving that the open road remains a major draw even in the era of 1p flights to Europe.

12/02/2008 08:54:37