MC Daily News Brief - March 8th, 2023

Welcome to today’s Modern Campground news brief for March 8th, 2023.?

Florida Tourism Industry Continues to Thrive

Florida’s tourism industry had a record-breaking year in 2022, with 137.6 million visitors, a 5% increase from 2019 and a 12.9% increase from 2021. Domestic visitation has been the driving force behind this growth, which has been increasing for 21 months since 2019. However, overseas visitation is still down about 28% versus 2019, with the US down nearly 40%. The increase in tourism is good news for private campground owners and operators, who can take advantage of this boom by investing in their facilities to attract and retain more customers. The growth in visitors will also likely result in increased demand for camping and recreational opportunities, resulting in more business for these owners and operators. With Florida's economy heavily reliant on tourism, this growth will benefit Floridians.

Camping and Outdoors Association Takes Action to Address Insurance Challenges of Park Operators

The Camping and Outdoors Association is addressing the insurance challenges faced by its members by creating a discretionary mutual fund (DMF) to provide coverage for campgrounds and farm stay operators. The insurance market is not accommodating, according to the association's CEO, with many businesses struggling to acquire public liability insurance. The association has engaged KJ Risk Group to arrange the DMF program and plans to provide AU$2.5 million for the primary layer of cover, with KJ Risk sourcing the excess layer of AU$17.5 million from traditional insurance providers. Without a DMF, many businesses may be unable to continue operations. The Camping and Outdoors Association is taking proactive steps to ensure its members can maintain the viability of their businesses.

MARVAC 46th Annual Flint RV & Camping Show: Spring into the Upcoming Camping Season

The Michigan Association of Recreation Vehicles & Campgrounds has announced the 46th Annual Flint RV & Camping Show, taking place from March 17th to March 19th at Dort Financial Center. The show offers attendees the chance to tour various RVs, talk to dealers about on-site financing or rentals, enter a giveaway, and pick up exclusive campground information for the upcoming season. The event will also feature guest appearances by Tom Daldin and Jim Edelman from the PBS show, Under the Radar Michigan. The show aims to promote the use of RVs for outdoor recreation and encourages people to explore the great outdoors.

That’s all for today’s news. For more in-depth coverage of these and other stories related to the outdoor hospitality industry, visit ModernCampground.com