The Edmonton Sun n WEDNESDAY,APRIL 14, 2010
ROAD ADVENTURES
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Canada awaits
Half the fun of RVing in this country is getting there
Takingatripbyplaneissure to getvacationers to their destination quickly, butasthe old sayinggoes, it?s not the destination, butthe journeyitself. In an RV,all the sights and sounds of the road become partofthe vacation. The forests, the lakes, the wildlife and the touriststops carveout aplaceinour memories.That?s one reason RVing is so popular with vacationers. Relaxingbehind thewheel and watching the world go by is arelaxing endeavour, and one the whole family can enjoy, so this summer,check out what the country has to offer with some tips from Go RVingCanada. ?Canada?s wilderness and areas of untamed natural beauty: Canada hasvastareas acrossthe countryprotected by our system of 39 national parks andhundredsofprovincial parks with every type of geographical landscape and NICOLE MCLAWS QMI Agency The economy took adive last year, but one thing remaining strong was RV travel. AccordingtoRVIA president RichardCoon, RVsare such an RVs remain one of the most popular travel choices for North American vacationers, but the RVIA?s B.J. Thompson and Gary LaBella say there are some key post-recession trends being seen in today?s RVers. ? Simplicity: Consumers are cutting back and focusing on simple family pleasures. ?RVing is the family-friendly scenery. Theyrange from the Pacific coast and temperate rain forests,acrossthe Rocky Mountain ranges, vast Prairies,and the Canadian Shield, to the Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence lowlands, and the Atlanticprovinces ?wildernessready foryou to explore in yourRV. ?Canada is aland of sea coasts and lakes:Canada has the longest coast line of any country with sea coasts on three sides. And in between, the map ofCanada is literally blue with the thousands of lakes,both large and small. So it?s no wonder water sports and activities,such as fishing, canoeing, kayaking, sailing and powerboating, areatraditional partofour summers, and RVers liketospend their summers by the water,too. ?When you travel in Canada, bringyourboatalong: When you travel with an RV,it?seasy to bring all your equipment along too. You can either enduringpartofpeople?s lives that goingwithout at leastone annual road trip is, tomany, simply unimaginable. ?Wehavesurvived the Great Depression, numerousrecessions andmarketdownturns, fuel crises, acts of terrorism and wars,? Coon says. GORVING CANADA Seeing the country by RV helps travellers appreciate the grandeur of nature as they marvel at the beauty of a sunset. strap asmall boat or canoe to theRVortow alargerboat behind. So when you arrive at the perfect lake orriver, you canexplorethe shorebyboat or go fishing asthe sun rises in the morning. ?Watch for rare birds and wildlife: If you love natureand enjoythe tranquillity of Can- ?But we have endured. Why? Because RVsare woven into the fabric of (our lives). ?People love RVing, they love our products and how theyenrich their lives,allowing them to spend time in the greatoutdoors with loved ones.? ada?s wildernessparks,make sure you bring binoculars. Youcan passmanyenjoyable hours in some secludedspot watching the local wildlife hidden amongthe treesorin the marshland. Sitand listen in perfectquietnesstohear a creature stirring in the undergrowth,the flightofabirdor Continued popularity amongcurrent owners and a recentuptickinwholesale RV shipments also indicate the worst of timesmay be over for the RV industry. Coon pointedtoastrengthening stock market, slowing job loss, higher productivity, the leapofafish. ?Experience something new when you are alone with nature: Families and friends learn something new about themselves, and each other, when theyare cut off from the rat-race of everyday life.They see things around them they never noticed before. They
RV industry proves recession-proof
way to travel a?ordably and enjoy the stress-busting e?ects of the outdoors,?Thompson says. ? Discretionary thrift: Now, even consumers with good incomes are seeking value without big-name premiums. ?RVs can be a good fit for this emerging consumer behaviour,? LaBella says. ?An RV is an investment with
Thrifty trends
long-lasting returns ? not only in financial savings over other types of travel, but in memories that can?t be valued in dollars.? ? Mercurial consumption: Before the recession, LaBella says,?consumers were moving quickly from product to product to keep up with the Joneses and find the next best thing.? Now, saving money is the motive. ? Living Green: Consumers are showing a rising interest in going green, a trend slowed but not stopped by the recession, LaBella says. ?We must educate consumers to understand that research shows that RV travel actually conserves resources and impacts the environment less than flying, driving and staying in hotels.? increasing home sales and rising manufacturing hours as reasons for economic optimism,while notingweak consumer confidence,continued high unemploymentand anemic consumer spending still presentchallenges. However, adds Gary LaBella,RVIA?s chief marketingofficer,the affordability of RV vacations could mean the pros far outweigh thecons. ?RVvacations cost less,? he says. ?Great deals are available for buyers with cash or good credit,full campgrounds show RV owners arestill travelling, and RVing continues to be a greatway for stressed families to reconnect and spend quality time with eachother.? The many benefits of RV travel resonate with buyers, renters and owners, and learn to appreciate each other and what beingafamily really means.And theycome to realize the grandeur and beauty of nature asthey marvel at the powerofanelectric storm or the beauty of asunset as it sinks belowthe horizon. ? GoRVing Canada with anew industryfocus on affordable,lighter-weightand energy-efficient RVs, many consumers who may otherwise have turned away from vacations in the comingyear have reconsidered. In fact, RVs were one of few vehicle lines that didn?t run into seriousproblems during the economic fallout of 2009. According toRVIA?s PR committee chairman B.J. Thompson, while new cars and trucks arenow seenasa luxuryexpensemanycan do without, RVs remain as covetedasever. ?RVs have remainedpopular,mainstream and relevant despite decliningshipments, despite high unemployment in ourindustryand the nation; and despite the toughest economic conditions since the GreatDepression,?hesays.
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