Caravan Tourism: From Niche Market to New Standard for Independent Travel

ARI Motors released a camper van the size of a regular van — and it's now Germany's smallest production electric camper at €30,000. JAL decided its passengers hadn't traveled enough and offered a sequel: a motorhome pickup straight from Narita. The lawsuit against Stellantis over "cheat" diesel software, a yellow DHL van in the hands of a retiree, and 413 million campsite overnight stays across Europe — all in this issue.

The indie game Outbound will let players experience camper van life. The project is scheduled for release on April 23, 2026, for PS5, Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, and PC, featuring four-player co-op, van customization, and open-world survival without combat.

Spain set a motorhome registration record — and immediately tightened the rules. On Mallorca, 150 caravans took over a sports complex car park because renting a flat costs more. Solar Butterfly returned from a solar-powered trip around the world, and Bryansk promises a camper for 3.9 million roubles — in this issue.

Caravan travel is becoming a promising tourism segment in Vietnam, especially post-pandemic, amid rising demand for private and flexible trips. Large-scale international caravan programs will be introduced at the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Festival in April 2026, signaling their integration into mainstream tourism promotion. Operators are launching new itineraries, such as to Ladakh (India) and Xinjiang (China), where groups of 15-30 vehicles (100-200 people) focus on in-depth exploration rather than simple relaxation.

Caravan tours are gaining popularity as a trend shifting focus from relaxation to the experience of 'traveling to live'. In Vietnam, despite the lack of a national development strategy, this segment is growing: companies are offering international routes, such as to Ladakh and Xinjiang, with groups typically comprising 15–30 vehicles. The demand surge is linked to post-pandemic travelers' desire for autonomy and personal experience.

Caravan tours, group self-drive journeys, are gaining popularity in Vietnam in response to increased demand for personalized and active travel post-pandemic. Organizers of the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Festival in 2026 plan to launch large-scale international caravan programs. A typical caravan involves 15-30 vehicles with 100-200 participants, primarily families and car clubs.