A holiday on wheels

"AIC's development is a testament to how much and how quickly the RV industry has grown," says Tian Lei, an official with the expo.

"We've seen RV travel become quite accessible to the general public, rather than a high-end vacation form for the minority," he adds.

Major travel agencies have also started to offer holiday packages revolving around the RV. For example, the China International Travel Service (CITS) has developed nearly 100 RV travel products related to parent-child experiences, photography and health. The agency also unveiled new travel products covering southwestern regions such as Sichuan, Yunnan and Tibet, and they include allowing private car owners to drive RVs in these areas.

"We'll also provide customers drivers (if necessary) and other services, such as rescue and emergency aid. The idea is to encourage more Chinese travelers to experience and be familiar with this travel style," says Tian Qun, general manager of the CITS.

Two camping sites in Kunming and Xishuangbanna, both in Yunnan province, are operated by CITS' subsidiary Yunnan Outdoor RV Co. The sites drew more than 2,000 travelers last year, a 20 percent year-on-year growth.

Zhang Chengshun, marketing director of Yunnan Outdoor RV Co, said that the company has already received several group bookings from Beijing during the summer. Each group comprises between 20 and 30 travelers, most of whom are parents and children.