Camper boom: municipalities draw the line

Flavio, an NCC taxi driver in Sirmione on Lake Garda, has been living in a motorhome for two years because he cannot find an affordable apartment. A one-room apartment would have cost more than 1000 euros per month. In a town of about 8,000 residents, up to 20,500 day visitors are recorded on peak days; some shops and restaurants are being converted into short-term rental apartments at over 1500 euros per week. In August 2026, tourism occupancy on Lake Garda reached 84.8%, and in Verona 80.6%.

Authorities in South Tyrol reported 15 violations during a nationwide crackdown on wild camping. A previous coordinated operation had recorded 21 cases. Overnight stays on public land are banned in the province; camping is allowed only at official campsites and designated motorhome pitches. Tourism councillor Luis Walcher said the issue should not be taken lightly, and authorities will continue joint inspections.

South Tyrolean brand Cubivan has developed a modular camping system consisting of a pull-out box in the boot and a hard-walled pop-top roof. The box extends upwards and downwards to create a full-height space with a kitchen unit featuring a 90 cm worktop and a shower measuring 90×95 cm. The system is planned for VW Caravelle, Ford Tourneo Custom and Mercedes Vito/V-Class; a separate box is offered for the VW ID.Buzz, and a lighter roof version is in development due to the ID.Buzz's 100 kg roof load limit. It was presented at Caravan Salon Düsseldorf 2026, where interest was also shown in the Kia PV5.

In 2025, over 44,000 motorhomes were purchased in Italy, including new and used: new registrations rose 10.56% compared to 2024, and used transfers increased 6.05%. According to the Association of Caravan and Camper Manufacturers, this reflects growing interest in recreational mobility, but does not indicate how many people live permanently in motorhomes. The open-air tourism sector reached 74 million visits in 2025, valued at 8.5 billion euros; 93% of wheel-based travellers consider this mode their preferred one. Among fulltimers are remote workers, retirees, freelancers and content creators; one account of 11 years living on board cites an average monthly cost of about 1,700 euros, excluding the vehicle purchase and travel.

Roller Team has unveiled the Kronos Fit 235 TL, the shortest model in the Kronos Fit range at 5.99 metres long and 2.15 metres wide, built on a Ford Transit and homologated for four occupants. Instead of a rear garage, it uses a pull-out platform for a scooter or two e-bikes. The maximum permissible weight remains 3,500 kg, requiring careful accounting of optional equipment and payload. German magazine Promobil estimated in April 2026 a starting price below €70,000, while a French price list quotes €63,991 for the 165 hp version; no official Dutch price for the 2027 model has been published.

The motorhome parking area on Via del Triangolo in Montalto Marina, recently opened, already shows signs of poor maintenance. Visitors report overgrown weeds on the gravel surface, untended green areas, and possible presence of rats and snakes. They are calling on authorities to carry out cleaning, vegetation cutting, and an overall inspection to ensure safety and usability.