The recession has forced many people to look at how they can save money and family holidays have proved to be one area where savings can be made.

This year an estimated 60 per cent of Britons will simply stay in the UK, rather than fly to the sun, sea and sangria of the Mediterranean, or further afield.

This has become known as ‘staycationing’ but with hotel prices in the UK as expensive or more so than abroad, the careless could soon find themselves spending as much as they would have done on a two-week package deal to the Costa Brava.

As a result, a return to the great British institution of camping has emerged, offering holidaymakers the opportunity to see new places without having to spend vast sums of money.

Meanwhile, it is providing a welcome boost for local leisure and tourism-related businesses.

Caravan sales, caravan servicing, sales of camping and other outdoor equipment have all been reaping the benefit.

So, too, have the caravan and camping parks, where owners have been selling out for the most popular week and weekend dates.

David Hughes, dealer principal at Bicester Caravan and Leisure, is enjoying rising sales.

He said: “People who may have been thinking about taking this kind of holiday are now deciding to do it.”

Along with those taking up self-sufficient holidays for the first time, Mr Hughes is welcoming back old customers.

He added: “We are seeing a lot of ‘born-again’ caravan enthusiasts . They are discovering how everything has evolved in recent years in terms of space, layout and furnishings.”

Visitors to the open days at the business have also been showing an interest in its trailer tents and folding campers.

These folding campers are very much more than just a tent on wheels — they have a caravan-type base and come fully-furnished, with facilities including heating, and have a high-tech all-weather fabric covering.

Mr Hughes also argues that a caravan or camper is a good investment, as money that might have been spent on a holiday abroad can instead be used to take cheaper breaks and holidays in the future.

The same encouraging story can be told at Kidlington Caravans, where Paul Winters has found that since the spring, when people’s thoughts were turning to decisions about summer holidays, caravans were featuring in those plans.

He has seen a rise in sales of both new and pre-used caravans and in the necessary accessories.

He said: “It seems a lot of people are deciding to stay in this country,” pointing out that the rate of the Euro against the Pound makes the difference in cost between a holiday at home and a trip abroad even greater.

But not everybody is setting out on a caravan holiday for the first time. For many, as holiday time approaches, it is a case of preparing their existing caravan for its next excursion.

At GT Services in Abingdon, Garry Treadwell specialises in servicing.

“Some people may not have used their caravan for a year or two, so it is essential that it is thoroughly checked over,” said his wife, Jane Treadwell.

“We have found that the demand for servicing has been really good this year and we hope that trend will continue.”

Caravanners and campers are well catered for at the many long-established parks which offer a range of facilities for visitors.

Bridge Villa Camping and Caravan Park at Crowmarsh Gifford, near Wallingford, has 100 pitches, which this year have been in great demand.

Spokesman Lindsay Townsend has witnessed a surge in bookings.

He said: “This year we are receiving new visitors, as well as those we see regularly. There is definitely an increase in demand.”

Mr Townsend added that the increase in the popularity of camping holidays has been encouraged by improvements in tents and other equipment in recent years, which has meant setting up camp is no longer the challenge it once was.

A busy summer has also been enjoyed at the Diamond Farm Caravan and Camping Park at Bletchingdon. There, managers John and Jackie Bidmead have been taking enquiries since early in the season.

“We have been fully booked for most of the summer weeks and some of the most popular ones were filled by mid-May,” said Mrs Bidmead. The leisure industry in Oxfordshire is reflecting a situation nationwide.

Matthew Eastlake of the Camping and Caravanning Club, which operates 109 sites throughout the country, described the growth in business this year as ‘enormous’.

“We have never seen anything like this,” he said. “And it has been a growth felt across the sector, such as in the manufacture of tents, of camping accessories and in related goods.

“People are finding there are many interesting places to see and they haven’t so far to go to reach them.”

Meanwhile, there has also been a surge of interest in businesses catering for camping and walking holidays.

James Choularton, owner of Outdoor Traders in Abingdon, has witnessed it first hand but has also found people are cautious in their spending.

Sales of walkers’ footwear and of backpacks have been strong, he reported, and he sees good prospects for the outdoor leisure industry.

“The forecasts are for continued growth in the outdoor sector for the next few years,”he said.

Contacts: o Bicester Caravan and Leisure: 01869 252353 o Kidlington Caravans: 01865 884088 o GT Services, Abingdon: 01235 520240 o Outdoor Traders, Abingdon: 01235 527704 o Bridge Villa Camping and Caravan Park, Crowmarsh Gifford: 01491 836860 o Diamond Farm Caravan and Camping Park, Bletchingdon: 01869 350909 o The Camping and Caravan Club: 0247 647 5442.