08/01/2025

8 January 2025
8 January 2025, Comments Comments Off on Parma – Salone del Camper 2024
Parma - Salone del Camper 2024

The Parma event concluded its 2024 edition with impressive figures, featuring over 330 exhibitors and more than 600 vehicles on display. Antonio Cellie (Fiere di Parma) and Simone Niccolai (APC) expressed their satisfaction with the outcome. Tourism Minister Daniela Santanchè reaffirmed the government’s focus on open-air tourism

Words editorial staff

The 15th edition of the Salone del Camper, organized by Fiere di Parma in collaboration with APC (Italian Association of Caravan and Camper Manufacturers), once again established itself as Italy’s leading industry fair and the second largest in Europe in terms of attendance. This year, the event recorded over 100,000 visitors, with more than 330 exhibitors, including 70 from 16 countries. Spanning an exhibition space of 110,000 square meters across five pavilions, over 600 recreational vehicles were displayed, marking a 4% increase in both exhibitors and space occupied compared to the previous year.

Antonio Cellie, CEO of Fiere di Parma

“We are very satisfied with the 2024 edition of the Salone del Camper,” said Antonio Cellie, CEO of Fiere di Parma, “because the numbers certify not only the strength and vitality of the sector but also the positive sentiment among the public. The Salone has once again affirmed itself as a recognized and established recreational vehicle showcase on the European stage, in a sector where Italy plays a significant role.”
“The success of the Salone del Camper reflects the huge interest Italians have in campers and caravans: not just for vacations but also for year-round leisure and weekend trips to discover beautiful places and nature, whether alone, with family, or with friends,” added Simone Niccolai, APC president. “This is experiential tourism, also involving sports and food and wine events, allowing people to enjoy their free time with a sense of freedom and in great comfort.”
The opening conference focused on the future of Fiere di Parma and the Salone del Camper (with their agreement renewed for another five years), strong market results, support for revising the European driver’s license directive, and investments in open-air tourism, starting with a grant to fund new rest areas for recreational vehicles.

Market figures

Simone Niccolai, APC president

APC president Simone Niccolai announced that the Salone del Camper agreement has been extended for at least five more editions. “We know that in the coming years, Fiere di Parma will bring many positive innovations that will make the Salone del Camper even more professional, attractive, and accessible. Reaching over 100,000 visitors is a significant milestone, solidifying our position as the second-largest fair in Europe in the open-air movement.” Niccolai then highlighted some key figures: during the season ending August 31, 6,892 vehicles were registered in Italy, compared to 5,542 the previous year, reflecting a 24.34% growth. Niccolai emphasized how this result aligns with growth trends over the last ten years. In 2014, registrations were below 4,000 units, but they have steadily increased since then, even with the disruptions caused by the pandemic. In Europe, the market is equally strong, with a 9.4% increase in registrations in the first half of 2024. APC’s efforts to support the sector are focused on marketing and communication campaigns, consulting services for municipalities and entrepreneurs to develop camper rest areas, engaging with European institutions, coordinating activities with these institutions and the European Caravan Federation (ECF), and, naturally, continuing the partnership between the Salone del Camper and Fiere di Parma.

Minister Santanchè’s input
Antonio Cellie welcomed Tourism Minister Daniela Santanchè to the stage, asking about priorities for supporting the sector’s growth. Santanchè emphasized the importance of fairs, stating, “The sector is essential for combating seasonality. Success requires awareness that teamwork is crucial; your partnership with Fiera Milano goes in this direction. A fragmented fair sector without a shared vision hinders success.” (Editor’s note: In 2023, Fiere di Parma signed a collaboration agreement with Fiera Milano). The focus then shifted to open-air tourism, which the Ministry is heavily invested in. “We don’t just look at registrations,” Santanchè noted, “but also how our ‘villages’ function - I no longer like the term ‘campsites,’ as it lacks the positive connotation it once had. Camping is no longer about tents alone; it has evolved tremendously. Today, it’s a high-value tourism sector. Buying a camper is an investment, which I see as very positive.”

Quality tourism and combating seasonality

Daniela Santanchè

Santanchè suggested shifting the perspective on tourism: “We must stop counting how many people come to our country and instead measure how much they spend here. We must understand that we are a quality, not quantity, destination. We need to raise the bar to attract high-value tourism and be increasingly competitive and ambitious, striving to be the best.” Finally, she urged the business community to work on seasonality: “We must keep facilities open as long as possible, because if everything closes by mid-September, sustaining tourism growth becomes difficult. I understand that entrepreneurs must keep an eye on financials, and the government needs to support those who choose to stay open, at least until a virtuous cycle is established.” She assured that this would be a focus of future efforts.

Recently, more Italians have discovered the potential of motorhome and camper vans, a way to travel and stay anywhere freely, blending harmoniously with the environment.
Here is a selection of the most significant vehicles for the 2025 season

The offerings from manufacturers for the 2025 season are highly varied. This season’s trend is compact low-profile motorhomes, with many new models debuting. In terms of originality, Laika stands out with its Kosmo L 105; Atlantis has introduced a vehicle made from carbon fiber instead of fiberglass; and Revans impressed with a high-end camper van full of innovative ideas and solutions. Also noteworthy is Blucamp, which, in partnership with Assocamp, promoted the Sky Free, a vehicle designed for people with mobility impairments.

Atlantis Carbon 595

The Atlantis Carbon 595 is the first monocoque motorhome made from carbon fiber, an innovative solution that reduces overall weight without compromising strength and safety. The Carbon 595 is built on an AL-KO chassis with a sandwich structure composed of two layers of carbon fiber and a core of expanded insulation. This design offers excellent impact and weather resistance. Not only does this configuration ensure greater vehicle longevity, but it also contributes to superior thermal insulation. Tests conducted in the Truma climate chamber, simulating extreme cold conditions (-15°C for 12 hours with the vehicle turned off), showed that the interior reached a temperature of 20°C in just three hours—one hour faster than the four hours required by the test.

Blucamp Sky Free

The Blucamp Sky Free is a motorhome specifically designed for individuals with mobility impairments, ensuring both accessibility and comfort. It features an electric platform lift and a widened entry, along with a spacious interior layout and a barrier-free bathroom with an accessible shower. The motorhome is powered by a Fiat Ducato 2.2 Mjet engine with 140 hp, delivering reliable performance, and it includes an electric bed for added convenience.

BunkerVan Forested 4x4

BunkerVan is a Spanish company that has gained attention in the industry by focusing exclusively on camper vans featuring a distinctive rear U-shaped dinette layout. The double bed is designed to drop down over the living area, optimizing the limited interior space typically found in camper vans. Their latest model is built on a Ford Transit chassis with all-wheel drive, measuring 598 cm in length. It also boasts a rear storage compartment large enough to accommodate two bicycles (front wheels removed). The double bed measures 195 by 145 cm.

Malibu Genius 641 LE

According to Malibu, Mercedes-Benz Sprinter-based camper vans, at 593 cm in length, do not provide the typical comfort level that their vehicles are known for. To address this, the German company decided to create a rear extension, bringing the total length to 641 cm. This allows for the installation of twin beds in the sleeping area and a large 1,400-liter cargo compartment, which is separated from the living space and accessible through a vertical-opening tailgate. Thus, the Malibu Genius 641 LE was born, also available in a performance 4x4 version with all-wheel drive, featuring “all-terrain” tires, LED lighting, and a system equipped with 300Ah lithium batteries.

Laika Kosmo L 105

Laika’s new Kosmo L 105 is one of its most compact models in recent years, measuring just six meters long. It features a rear U-shaped maxi-dinette, capable of seating up to seven people. For night time, there are two twin drop-down beds above the living area, which can also be converted into a double bed. Opposite the entrance door is the kitchen, designed in a slight L-shape, while behind the front seats are the wardrobe (on the left) and a flexible bathroom with a rotating sink wall to create a spacious shower area (on the right). A retractable table allows the passenger seat to serve as a workspace or relaxation spot. The vehicle also includes a double floor with two hatches and storage drawers.

Notin Vera

The French brand Notin, which is part of the Trigano Group, boasts a history spanning over a hundred years. The company made its official debut in Italy just before the Salone del Camper where it showcased some of its offerings. The Progress Vera model features a compact design (649 centimeters in length) and an interior layout that follows the latest trends: no fixed bed, opposing benches at the front with a drop-down bed, a kitchen in the central area, and a large transverse rear compartment with a spacious wardrobe above the garage storage.

Giottiline Toscan 69 XF

A completely new model debuts in the Toscan family of Giottiline, a Tuscan company that is part of the Rapido group: the Toscan 69 XF, which offers a layout without fixed beds in a length of six meters and 99 centimeters. The living area features a fold-down bed (148/128 by 196 centimeters) and can accommodate up to seven people, but the real highlight is the rear bathroom, that is divided into two sections: a bathroom with a sink on the right and a shower on the left. An unusual folding door allows for the creation of a single room.

Revans

Revans is a new Italian company that has decided to venture into the creation of high-quality panel vans capable, according to the designer’s intentions, of surpassing the limits of traditional camper vans by creating the ideal camper. The first model is based on the Fiat Ducato with a distinctly original layout: at the front, there are four individual seats, while at the rear, a living area with opposing sofas is illuminated by three large windows, with the option to partially or fully open the horizontally divided rear door. The bedroom is located in the rigid pop-up roof and provides access to an original (and unique) panoramic terrace.

Elnagh E-Van 6 XL Premium

The main novelty from Elnagh for the 2025 season is the E-Van 6 XL Premium, a van with a compact length of 599 centimeters that offers a remarkable longitudinal drop-down double bed measuring 190 by 160 centimeters. Thanks to an electric lifting system, the underlying cargo space can have a variable height from 75 centimeters, with the bed in use, to a maximum of 130 centimeters. This allows for easy loading of bicycles or even small scooters. A 70-liter compressor refrigerator and diesel heating have made it possible to forgo the traditional pair of gas canisters in favor of a single seven-kilogram container. At the front, the removal of the overhead storage increases daytime livability.

McLouis Mc4 Slim 339

Narrow is beautiful. Or rather: it’s comfortable and more maneuverable. With this idea in mind, McLouis has developed the Series 300 Mc4 Slim, which includes three models with a compact width of 215 centimeters and a length ranging from 599 to 669 centimeters. The latter measurement characterizes the 339 model, which features a rear bedroom with twin beds, central services, and a front semi-dinette. A drop-down bed can be requested above the living area. The bathroom is designed with a pivoting wall that moves the sink over the toilet, freeing up space for a decent shower area.

Rimor Sarus 50

The new entry-level range from Rimor is called Sarus (initially named Bliss) and includes six overcab vehicles and eight semi-integrated models based on the Fiat Ducato. The Sarus 50 model features a modern design with elegant interiors, a pair of bunk beds in the rear for four sleeping places, and a double bed in the overcab, totaling six approved sleeping spaces. The living area has a double “L”-shaped sofa that accommodates all occupants at the table, while the centrally located bathroom is positioned between the single beds. This layout keeps the overall vehicle length to 699 centimeters.