Caravan tourism booms in Turkey: from interviews to real-life stories

In the Kötekli neighborhood of Menteşe, Muğla, a parked Fiat Ducato caravan caught fire, spreading to a nearby Skoda Fabia. Firefighters prevented the flames from reaching a third vehicle (Volkswagen Polo). No injuries were reported.

Ortsan Outdoor has unveiled the Mini House caravan, which measures about 4 m in travel mode and expands sideways at the push of a button, increasing living space from 8.4 to over 20 m². It features 470 W solar panels, a 200 Ah lithium battery, two 200 L tanks, a kitchen, bathroom, air conditioning, and a diesel heater. Price starts at $19,300.

Turkey's caravan (travel trailer) industry is increasing its global competitiveness through R&D investments. In the first four months of 2025, Turkey exported caravans worth $4.1 million, achieving a trade surplus of $2.8 million. Germany was the largest buyer ($906,300), followed by the UK, France, Austria, and Spain. The industry association aims to become one of the top three global producers by 2035.

Petrol Ofisi has concluded its large-scale campaign with 3,877,761 participants. The draw, held on June 9, 2026, under the supervision of the National Lottery Administration, awarded a 2026 BMW 520i Sedan Edition M Sport, two Bianco Activ 560 SKM caravans, three 2026 BMW F 800 GS motorcycles, 20 prizes of 100,000 Turkish Airlines miles, and hundreds of fuel vouchers worth 10,000 TL. Winners must submit applications by June 30, 2026; reserve winners by July 15, 2026.

Ortsan Outdoor has introduced the Mini House Caravan, a travel trailer that appears compact on the road but expands sideways like an accordion at the campsite. According to New Atlas, the living space nearly triples. The design addresses the issue of bulk during towing, but concerns remain about mechanism durability, sealing, and wind stability.

Amendments to Law No. 5403 in Turkey have banned unauthorized construction on agricultural land. Containers, prefabricated houses, and wheeled tiny houses now require official permits. On plots under 5,000 sq m, any construction is prohibited; on larger plots, only 5% of the area (max 250 sq m) may be built upon, with a 5 m setback from neighboring boundaries and 10 m from roads. Violations are monitored via satellite and weekly drone surveillance.