Camping Trade World – Issue 11

DOING BUSINESS WITH... SPAIN
65 YEARS IN THE SUN
▲ Spain is not just about the beaches, there are plenty of locations in the mountains for camping.
“If you like caravanning, you care about the
environment and you don’t mind lending a hand
when others need you, then you are an Ecovanner.”
ECOVANING
The aforementioned
ASEICAR association
does more than just help
the companies within the
industry, it also aims to
help make the pastime of
camping and caravanning
more sustainable. A few years
back it launched a campaign
called ECOVANING, the idea
behind which is help campers
collaborate and care for the
environment. A statement
from ASEICAR explains:
“Through ECOVANING ,
we are going to participate
together with motorhome
groups and individuals, and
with the collaboration of Zalba
Caldú and autocaravanas.es in
environmental initiatives such
as cleaning our mountains and
beaches and we will be there
where they need our solidarity,
with the reforestation of our
forests after a fire or cleaning
riverbeds and rivers after a flood.
“Caravanning is not just a
way of traveling. It is a way of
living and being respectful of
the environment that gives us
so much and that we enjoy so
much. For this reason, nature is
a travel companion who must be
cared for and pampered. Also,
solidarity is our other hallmark.
We do not hesitate to help a
colleague who needs it or who
has a problem. Therefore, if you
like caravanning, you care about
the environment and you don’t
mind lending a hand when
others need you, then you are an
Ecovanner.”
The industry in Spain
recently celebrated a
significant anniversary – it
has been 65 years since the
first ever caravan was built
in Spain by an insurance
appraiser and keen
camper. The van was built
in Barcelona and features
a metal frame, no brakes,
and a design that featured
larger than ideal amounts
of papier mache. However,
this started the trend in
Spain and the country’s
two associations, ASEICAR
and GREMCAR, celebrated
the milestone at a special
event in Barcelona in 2022
that was attended by the
country’s general director
of tourism.
That first caravan was
built by Pedro Martinez
Aznar under the brand
name Caravanas Tuset
– just three years later
and it was sold for
60,000 pesetas at the
Barcelona International
Trade Fair. 65 years later,
and caravanning is big
business in Spain, with
that showing no sign of
slowing down in future
years. Like most countries
in Europe, its path to where
it is today has been one of
innovation, exploration, and
perseverance.
www.campingtradeworld.com | 29