Apr 13, 2021

A perspective on the very positive public perception of boating as an activity could well be the idea that boating is a very safe activity and holiday choice compared to many other options.

On March 30, 2021, RVezy, a North American peer-to-peer RV rental marketplace, revealed findings from a new travel survey (conducted by Abacus Data) highlighting the impact of COVID-19 on Canadian travel plans for 2021. According to RVezy’s new survey, RVing and camping ranked as one of the safest travel options for 2021, with over 70% of Canadians considering the activities as not risky. With the slow rollout of vaccines and lingering concerns of a third wave, the survey also highlighted that 93% of Canadians mentioned “doing something safe” as a top priority for their vacation plans.

There are many similarities between boating and RVing. In their survey, some of the main reasons why Canadians are considering an RV trip this summer include:
• Being outdoors with self-contained accommodations;
• The ability to avoid crowds and maintain social distancing;
• No need to quarantine during or after your trip.

“Our survey results show that Canadians consider RVing and Camping up to three times safer than other types of accommodations such as staying in a hotel. We are also seeing that roughly 70% of Canadians consider camping in an RV of little to no risk compared with 28% who feel the same way about flying on a plane to a destination,” said David Coletto, CEO of polling firm Abacus Data.

It would be a solid measure safer for Canadians fortunate enough to own their own vacation property, to stay there. So much the better if they own a boat. For those with live-aboard boats, the comparison would be almost as good.

Here is the point we should draw from this information: as an industry, boating will benefit from emphasizing that boating is a non-risky travel activity and a rewarding way to experience the outdoors after more than a year of being in various levels of a lock-down.

This should become a lasting and very positive perception among both experienced and new boaters and that should bring us positive sales momentum even after the lock-downs have ended. Keep this in mind as you plan your marketing and communications in the coming years.

Andy Adams – Editor