In Delingha, a popular stop on the Qinghai-Gansu tourist route, travelers in vehicles with sleeping accommodations (床车) are increasingly parking overnight at hotel lots, using their toilets and water without paying for rooms. According to one hotel manager, this pressures business: even at 100% occupancy, revenue falls as some guests opt for free parking. Hotels cannot influence the situation due to fears of complaints to municipal authorities.
In 2025, China registered 7,376 new campers, up 85.61% from the previous year. One source also mentions 13,258 new motorhomes, but this figure is not confirmed by the other source.
According to a new source, in the first week of summer, revenue at budget hotels in China fell by more than 8% year-on-year. The reason cited is the growing popularity of electric campers: an overnight stay in a vehicle costs about 5 yuan for electricity, and maximum charging and overnight costs at a service station do not exceed 30 yuan. Owners of such vehicles note that during a 56-day trip through Xinjiang, they spent about 1,000 yuan on accommodation, staying at a hotel only 5 times. The main impact was on roadside hotels and guesthouses near tourist areas, where the share of guests in vehicles fell by more than half. Experts suggest introducing paid services for campers, such as parking, shower, and laundry, to compensate for losses.