Innovative Camping Car Business

In this article we will see how one can start a camping car business. The goal of this blog is to come up with an innovative tourism business idea that is rare in India. Read this camping car business plan that is written in detail here, from problem statements to investments. Moreover, if you want more information, may write to me, I promise to get back in a week.

I have not written anything on travel and tourism yet, for the last few days I have been evaluating the scope of a business that has not yet evolved completely or less tried in the Indian tourism market. Better late than never, I have found one! Yes, this business model does exist but not very widely.

Introduction to camping car business.

I have searched on the internet and found very few relevant pieces of information on the camping car business in India, which have given me confidence that this line of business has not yet evolved in the Indian tourism market.

The line of camping car business I will discuss here is common in western countries but in India that is a rare kind of leisure tourism business. If you are not familiar with what is camping car is, you may read about caravan tourism on the internet.

Must know facts about Camping Cars before starting the business

Though Caravan and camping car are different in their respective utility hence, here camping caravan will be the right word to use. We all know that tourism, as well as motor vehicles, comes under some governmental regulation purview. And, as these two are related to camping caravans there are some restrictions.

Recently Govt of Maharashtra passed a bill in the state cabinet to allow camping caravans (Camping car business). They have decided to allow the recreational motor home in different tourist attractions or at their identified places. The ministry is also seeking private investment in this endeavor. You may check with other state governments whether they too have camping caravan directives like the Government of Maharashtra.

Here is a note I found on the internet, kindly check.

Must read some details of camping cars business in the Indian context, to understand their look size and utility. 

I hope you have now easily understood what a camping caravan is and how that serves.

Let me explain in a one-line, camping caravan is usually used in leisure tourism to access remote tourist places or interesting locations where modern days luxury habited is rare hence taking the utility along.

Scope of camping car business in India.

The scope of business is immense in this wing of tourism as special interest group tourism already has a big stake in the overall Indian tourism business, moreover, this has a scope of giving customers to select their choice of destination (Not applicable in some states as they allow such tourism in selective and pre-decided location).

Now, if you have a scope like the Government of Maharashtra created you may evaluate a business model with its complete version or, I will propose to create one in a modified form of a camping caravan business to keep the investment low, which is feasible in all state’s regulation contexts.

Check home based business ideas here.

Check online business ideas here.

Check small business ideas here.

What do you need and what will the investment be for a camping car business?

1. Buy or rent a Semi Utility Van currently in my view ISUZU V Cross is best suited. To buy you may take bank finance and get one. You may budget 3 to 5 lakhs of rupees for self-contribution.
2. You must go for a self-drive car registration i.e. Black-plated yellow engraving [Check your States Transport Vehicle Regulations]
3. You need to do some sort of interior modification, you may refer internet will get ample ideas. Keep a budget of 50K [Please remember this is excluding the car accessories that usually get fitted in a new car]
4. Buy camp products like a portable tent, foldable chairs, tables, utensils, sleeping provisions, cooking provisions, lighting/energy provisions, emergency kits for cars as well as for safety [This might cost you approximately 3 lakhs rupees]
5. When your car is completely ready, please experiment on a tour with your friends and see what lacks, load those as per your experience.

Points to keep in mind before you start the camping car business.

1. You must take a lot of precautions while renting the car. [Customer profile, Customer driving capabilities, and licenses, agreement to protect your assets, insurance, security deposits, emergency contact, etc.]
2. To make people aware, please go for digital marketing. You should let the interest group know your offering and the places one goes camping.
3. In the pre-decided venues please establish a steady contact with a local person who can quickly support your customers when required.

Investment required for this camping car business.

Hope you got fair ideas on the business concept I proposed here. My research says to start this business one may have to invest INR Rs 8 Lakhs which is including the down payment for the car.

The pricing of the service has no fixed limit but my business sense says you should target 25 days of booking in a month. And the monthly cash inflow should not be more than 100% of the outflow of a month. These will help you get the affordable tag and will ensure a match with perceived value and desired value.

I hope you have liked this camping car business, if you want to know anything more you may write to me.

Best of luck!