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Miami Herald
a day ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
Is this why Americans have hit the brakes on the #vanlife dream?
Is this why Americans have hit the brakes on the #vanlife dream? After a boom during the pandemic, Americans are no longer embracing vanlife with as much enthusiasm as they did during lockdown. Plenty of pandemic-era habits have stuck around - Zoom calls, grocery delivery, comfy pants - but living out of a van freely on the open road, it seems, has not had the same staying power. Vanlife represents the outdoorsy lifestyle centered around mobile shelters like camping trailers, recreational vehicles, and retrofitted vans. Starting in 2020, as cities emptied and remote work became the norm, thousands of people took to this relatively cheap and crowd-free way to explore the country. As they traveled, they fueled the trend by sharing their most idyllic experiences on social media with the hashtag #vanlife. However, new research conducted by Motointegrator and the data experts at DataPulse Research suggests that many people who signed on to vanlife at the height of the pandemic are now putting it in their rearview mirror. Sales of RVs - a good proxy for all kinds of camping vehicles, including custom retrofitted vans - have not only cooled off but have fallen below pre-pandemic levels, based on an analysis of sales data. What is more, the number of households that camp in RVs has also dropped back to levels not seen since the 2018–2019 period, following a rapid spike during the height of the pandemic, according to a similar analysis of RV camping activity. It turns out, when you sell a record number of campers in a few short years, there's not a lot of fresh demand left after the rush, which is the key reason why RV sales today are lower than they were even a decade ago. "The pandemic was such a massive disruption [to RV sales] that the previously observed trends were no longer applicable," a November 2024 report by the news site notes. "Indeed, had RV sales continued on the path that was established pre-COVID-19, it is estimated that there would have been continued consistent growth year-over-year." The #vanlife dream This is not to say vanlife is completely gone. Its popularity just seems to be returning to pre-pandemic norms. The #vanlife hashtag dates back to the early 2010s when a New Yorker named Foster Huntington quit his corporate job to live on the road. Along his journey, he found many others living in vans, preserving a subculture that began with the hippies of the 1960s. Huntington used the hashtag when he posted photos of his new life on social media, and, soon enough, #vanlife began to trend among a rising generation of free-spirited people who followed in his footsteps. When the pandemic hit in 2020, people around the world, freshly untethered from their office jobs, saw an opportunity to embark on their own on-the-road adventures. Across the U.S., there was a surge in RV sales, from 400,000 shipments in 2019 to 600,000 in 2021, according to the RV Industry Association. Those figures do not account for retrofitted vans, which are beloved by the vanlife community. These vans, often former work vehicles or delivery vans, exploded in popularity thanks to their budget-friendly customization options and flexibility. Unlike larger trailers or bus-like mobile homes, they are easier to drive and park while still being more comfortable than tents. However, securing one became difficult; as CNN reported in 2021, companies that retrofit vans suddenly had yearslong waitlists - and that was assuming the customer had a van to retrofit given the competition. During lockdowns, online orders for household items surged and Amazon needed to expand their fleet of van models - namely, Mercedes Sprinters, Ford Transits and RAM ProMasters - which happen to be the preferred choices for vanlifers, as well. The end of the dream Nonetheless, many Americans did succeed in landing their own recreational vehicle. The race to get (or retrofit) RVs created an influx of newbie owners. As shown by the chart below, more than half (55%) of today's RV owners are newbies who have owned their vehicle for just five years or less. The vanlife movement appears to have deflated as quickly as it ballooned in pandemic-era America. For many, the vanlife lifestyle turned out to be a detour, not a destination. As a result, many vehicles bought during the pandemic are not racking up much mileage today. Some 10 million households, or close to 8% of all households in the U.S., camped in an RV last year - and around 8 million of those campers were RV owners. That might seem like a lot, but it is down from the 15 million (nearly 12% of households) that camped in an RV at the 2022 peak. The drop in vanlifers is also evident in yearly survey data that tracks campers by experience level. The share of inexperienced campers (those who were brand new to camping or who had started "in the last few years") peaked in the years after the pandemic's onset, according to Kampgrounds of America. In 2022, people who were relatively new to camping accounted for more than 40% of all campers. After that peak though, the numbers dropped off pretty quickly. The mad rush to join the vanlife community was over, new blood was not coming into the vanlife community as quickly, and there was attrition among the vanlifers who had given it a shot. By 2024 the share of relatively new campers had dropped to 16% - levels that were typical before the pandemic hit. There are many reasons why the dream did not live long. For one, vanlife is not the "Insta-glam" life it is cracked up to be. There are difficult realities of vanlife, as New York Times essayist Caity Weaver captured in her own pursuit of the idyllic lifestyle in 2022, noting that just the act of sleeping in a van was "cramped, slovenly and bad." Vanlife also became impractical as life got back to normal. As the major waves of COVID-19 petered out, managers became less tolerant of the work-from-anywhere approach, making it difficult for most to juggle both vanlife and their careers. Still, vanlife left its mark While vanlife may have been a flash-in-the-pan for many, the overall number of people who seek outdoorsy experiences, including RVing, tent camping, or glamping, may now start to stabilize to normal growth levels. Prior to the pandemic, it was estimated that the growth would be about 2 million additional households a year. As the camping community returns to normal, it is interesting to note that a few things have, in fact, changed for good. For one, there has been "a notable increase in younger and more diverse [RV] owners compared to previous years," a RV Industry Association report notes. "Younger generations are much more engaged than they used to be." Indeed, those who have stuck around are more committed to the lifestyle. Today, owners use their RVs a median of 30 days a year, up 50% from the 20 days reported in 2021. And campgrounds have tried to accommodate them, offering more amenities like WiFi, according to Kampgrounds of America. Perhaps vanlife is now how it was always intended to be: a smaller, scrappier community that genuinely wants the open road, the early mornings in nature, and yes, the occasional headache of a flat tire in the middle of nowhere. This story originally appeared on Motointegrator, was produced in collaboration with DataPulse Research, and was reviewed and distributed by Stacker. © Stacker Media, LLC.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The 2025 set-jetting hotlist: 8 locations where film tourism is about to boom
Traveling to famous filming locations is no longer a niche trend. Twenty years ago, 'The Lord of the Rings' trilogy drew tourists to New Zealand. Today, fans of 'White Lotus' are flocking to the paradisiacal settings featured in the hit U.S. series. DataPulse Research reveals which destinations are poised to become must-visits for set-jetters in 2025. Lately, there's been a lot of buzz about Koh Samui preparing for a tourism boom. Hotel operators and restaurateurs are hopeful that more affluent travelers will discover the island paradise—arriving with deep pockets and dreams of luxury resorts. Fueling this optimism is the so-called “White Lotus' effect. The cult HBO series has reportedly inspired TV lovers in recent years to spend their holidays at iconic filming locations. This phenomenon, known as set-jetting, is far from new—but it's gaining momentum. 'Screen tourism, or set-jetting, can be traced back to the late 1980s. It has grown significantly over the past few decades,' explains Pedro Barbadillo. He works as a film consultant in Mallorca, Spain, and was until recently the island's film commissioner. He advises film crews on how to ensure a film's authenticity and credibility, among other things. Cult HBO hit 'The White Lotus' is widely credited with inspiring TV lovers to plan their next getaway around an on-screen destination (this season it's Thailand). And while we can definitely understand the allure of swapping the freezing East Coast for the tropics, this is one trend that's been around a lot longer than you might think. When 'The Lord of the Rings' and 'The Hobbit' trilogies launched in 2012, New Zealand was inundated with tourists keen to catch a glimpse of Middle Earth. As the chart below shows, the year-on-year growth rate in the number of tourists visiting New Zealand rose sharply from near zero in 2012 to more than 11% in 2016. A study by researchers at Leeds Beckett University estimated that 'The Hobbit' trilogy generated an impressive$771.80 million in tourism revenue for New Zealand, benefiting local businesses, tourism operators, and related industries alike. The study also found an overall economic gain of $186.24 million, boosting household incomes, business profits, and tax revenues. Unsurprisingly, not every film or TV destination becomes a major tourist attraction. In the case of the 'Mad Max' films for example, the subsequent increase in Australian tourist numbers was short-lived. The same is true of Kazakhstan. It welcomed a few more tourists than normal after the release of 'Borat,' but those figures soon dropped back to normal levels. For a filming location to become a tourist destination, certain conditions need to be met according to Pedro Barbadillo : 'The location must appear in an iconic film or series that becomes a cultural phenomenon for a specific social group—like millennials or Gen Z.' Additionally, the place must be accessible to mass tourism, Barbadillo adds. Some places strengthen the effect by referencing the film in their marketing or offering themed experiences that draw fans from around the world. If you haven't yet succumbed to the hype surrounding 'White Lotus,' here are the cliff notes: Each six-episode season is set in a different location (Season 1 Hawai'i, Season 2 Sicily, Season 3 Thailand) and follows the lives of staff and uber-rich guests at a luxurious resort. It's darkly humorous and quirky. But is the awareness generated for each destination really enough to send tourism numbers soaring? A quick look at the first three seasons shows two hits and a miss. Looking back, Season 1 triggered a small tourism boom in Hawaii in 2021, specifically at the Four Seasons Resort in South Maui's Wailea, one of the show's key filming locations. Compared to the previous year, website visits increased by 425%, and availability inquiries rose by 386%, according to a Four Seasons manager in an interview with ABC. Travel site Expedia also told ABC that search interest for both Hawaii and Sicily, where Season 2 was filmed, jumped by 300%. Our charts tell a slightly different story. As you can see below, searches for 'flights to Hawaii' and 'Wailea' did spike around the July 11, 2021, release date, but they quickly slumped. What's more, related search terms focused on phrases like 'Hawaii COVID restrictions' and 'Hawaii COVID travel' rather than 'Hawaii White Lotus'. Unsurprisingly so—after all, the world was still in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021. If the number of searches for 'flights to Hawaii' or 'Wailea' is any indication of 'White Lotus' fans' penchant for set-jetting, Thailand doesn't have much to get excited about. Interestingly, the number of daily Wikipedia page views for Wailea rose by 279% during the first season and remained at that level until the final episode aired. Searches for 'flights to Sicily' and 'San Domenico' (part of the name of the hotel that hosted Season 2) tell a very clear story. Within three months of Season 2 dropping, searches for 'flights to Sicily' grew 144% among U.S. Googlers. Even more dramatically, searches for 'San Domenico' rose more than 800% in the month or so after the season premiere. Search users also used phrases related to 'White Lotus' in their Sicily search terms, telling us they were researching a possible Italian getaway because they'd been influenced by the TV series. For an example of this effect, look at the main search term 'flights to Sicily,' with the fifth fastest growing related team being 'San Domenico Palace.' According to a hotel manager quoted by The Guardian, the San Domenico Palace was fully booked for six months following the season's release. Similarly, the number of daily English-language Wikipedia page views for Sicily and Taormina saw a significant increase following the release of the second season. Judging by the data so far, 'White Lotus' viewers have been captivated by Thailand and driven to act on their wanderlust. Following the season premiere in mid-February of this year, travel to Thailand was mentioned 60% more frequently on social media than before, according to social media analysts at Sprout Social. According to travel platform bookings for flights and hotels in Koh Samui have increased by nearly 30% compared to the same period last year. While similar ups and downs can also be seen in the previous six months, searches for 'Koh Samui' (the specific Thai island where Season 3 is set) increased 170% after the season dropped. Wikipedia page views also reflect the surge of interest in Koh Samui: within 24 hours of the second episode airing, they temporarily spiked by an astonishing 2,976%. Travellers are seeking out destination-related information in larger numbers It isn't just flight searches that are spiking. Would-be visitors are also showing an interest in learning more about each season's destination. While interest in flights to Hawaii remained flat, the number of daily Wikipedia page views for Wailea grew 279% just before the launch of Season 1 and remained elevated through to the final episode airing. Likewise, the number of daily page views for Sicily and Taormina also increased sharply when Season 2 aired, by 150% and 122%, respectively. An analysis of Thailand's Wiki page views does not reveal any obvious reaction to the season premiere, but daily page views for Koh Samui jumped 2,976% in the 24 hours after Episode 2 dropped. American viewers did more than research travel options in 2022 and 2023. As seen below, the number of Americans visiting Sicily in 2022 grew by more than 300% and continued to grow faster than the overall number of tourists in 2023. Could this be down to 'White Lotus'? Anecdotal evidence suggests so. The Four Seasons Domenico Palace reports that it was fully booked for six months after the release of Season 2. The obvious conclusion here is that fans couldn't wait to experience the 'White Lotus' resort in real life. It's also worth noting that the town of Taormino also welcomed way more foreign visitors than usual in the aftermath of Season 2, with the number of hotel check-ins doubling between 2021 and 2022. Showing that the Italian tourist board may well have managed to sustain its TV tourism stream, check-ins have remained elevated and grew by more than 50% in 2023. This could also be due to things like new 'White Lotus' fans going back and re-watching previous seasons (thereby unleashing a desire to visit Sicily) or original fans finally having the time or money to book their dream trip. Which upcoming releases could spark the next big travel wave? DataPulse analyzed streaming data, box office expectations, Google search trends, and fan buzz to identify eight destinations with the potential to become global set-jetting hotspots in 2025. From blockbuster sequels to cult TV follow-ups, these locations offer the perfect mix of cinematic appeal and wanderlust potential. 'Squid Game' Season 2 was only released in December but is already the third most watched Netflix season ever, meaning it could well have the reach to make South Korea the top set-jetting destination of 2025. While the show is set on a fictional island, it does heavily feature iconic architecture from the Daejeon Expo Science Park and Incheon International Airport, helping to bridge the gap between TV and the real world. We can also see evidence of this in the Google search data. 'Squid Game' is the ninth fastest-growing Google topic related to South Korea while the search term 'Squid Game' is one of South Korea's top 25 most closely related Google topics. Such a strong association between the series and its origin country demonstrates the show's remarkable influence over the image of South Korea in the eyes of the world. Set in a fictional United States of the future but shot in the Canada of today, 'The Last of Us' Season 2 set a trailer viewership record for HBO with 158 million global views in only three days. Season 1 cumulatively accrued some 32 million views in the U.S. and the second season, released on April 13, was poised to capture just as many viewers with the same rugged, self-reliant aesthetic. The city where the season is filmed, Mission, British Columbia, has room to grow as a tourist destination—so could it soon welcome an influx of visitors? A recent survey found that attendance at events held in Mission is almost entirely composed of locals, suggesting it's a hidden gem on the tourist trail and ripe for discovery. 'Wednesday' Season 1 is another top-three Netflix hit. Shot in Romania, the first season of 'Wednesday' has been viewed 250 million times and resulted in an uptick of foreign visitors. The second season is set to premiere later this year and features a high-profile cast—most notably, Lady Gaga. Filming took place at various locations across Ireland. Even then—Prime Minister Simon Harris made an appearance on set—after all, it's the largest TV production ever filmed in Ireland. Thailand's population of 66 million welcomed 35 million tourists to the country in 2024. Even if 'White Lotus' doesn't flood Thailand with tourists, 'Jurassic World: Rebirth' just might. Despite being set on a fictional tropical island, the latest release from the 'Jurassic' franchise prominently features breathtaking scenery from sites in Krabi, Thailand, like Ao Phang Nga National Park, Khao Phanom Bencha National Park, and Ko Kradan. Timed for release in the summer blockbuster season, 'Jurassic World: Rebirth' is likely to sell between 30 million and 60 million theater tickets in the U.S. based on prior 'Jurassic World' releases. While parks like Ao Phang Nga National Park already max out their 1,600 daily visit limit, the film's vistas may still push an influx of tourists toward lesser known sites. 'Mission Impossible—The Final Reckoning' will be the final chapter of the 'Mission Impossible' franchise. And where better to complete the franchise than at the end of the Earth: Norway's Arctic region? The film will also feature more southerly, easily-accessible regions of Norway, like the fjords of Aurland. Aurland is already one of the top holiday destinations for Norwegians and is accessible by cruise, car, or train, making it a convenient option for foreign visitors, too. Visitors to Britain's official tourism site will already find an entire page dedicated to advertising the pastoral settings of last year's hit 'Wicked.' Since its release in fall 2024, some 40 million Americans have seen the film in theaters. This fall, 'Wicked: For Good' will bring Oz to life using many of the same English countryside vistas from the first film, along with landscapes from Egypt's White Desert National Park. Starring Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jeff Goldblum, and Michelle Yeoh, seeing the whimsical appeal of rural Britain and mysteries of Egypt brought to life on the big screen could well trigger a desire to take a nomadic journey through the desert or frolic in the English countryside this year or next. The fall 2024 release from the Paddington franchise earned more than $43.5 million at the American box office. While the film relies heavily on computer-generated imagery for its main character, it also features real Peruvian sites and traditional Peruvian woven art. Like the British tourism ministry, the Peruvian tourism commission has carefully sought to link the film to its setting by offering background on the scenes of the film via the web. Scotland is no stranger to set-jetting. Since the release of 'Braveheart,' the small Scottish town of Stirling, home to the National Wallace Monument, has seen more than $33 million in tourism revenue. Now, as renowned director Guillermo del Toro prepares to release his adaptation of 'Frankenstein,' a new wave of viewers may be motivated by the ephemeral beauty of craggy mountains and deep blue lochs to make the journey. Set jetting is a novel way to use up vacation days, but it can make for a truly memorable trip by taking film and TV fans off the beaten path. It could spark a desire to visit somewhere that previously wasn't on the radar—like a desert in Egypt or the Arctic expanse of Norway—taking viewers on a true journey of discovery. For destinations that manage to score a starring role on the big screen, there's a clear opportunity to capitalize. However, a prolonged boost in tourist numbers isn't a given, as destinations like Australia have found. The places successful in making their destinations a long-term success fully embrace their links with the TV show or movie that put them in the spotlight. As streaming platforms continue to invest in global content, don't be surprised if your next trip is inspired by the next 'White Lotus.' Wherever the screen leads, set-jetters follow. This story was produced by DataPulse Research and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Why has an entire generation been shut out of the housing market?
In Idaho, homes have become 90% more expensive relative to income over the past decade. That's not a typo. A state once considered a haven of relative affordability is now one of the starkest examples of America's housing crisis. In 2013, home values in the state were a little over 3 times the median annual household income. By 2023, they had risen to 6 times the household income. But Idaho is hardly an outlier. A new analysis from the real estate agency immoverkauf24 in collaboration with the research experts at DataPulse Research finds that housing has become less affordable in 46 out of 50 states. In 18 states, buying a home is now at least 30% harder than it was 10 years ago. Using data from the National Association of Realtors, Zillow, and the U.S. Census, the researchers took a deep dive into the U.S. housing affordability crisis, looking at which demographics and communities have been most affected. Affordability isn't just about the price tag of a home. It's about how much people are earning. In 2023, U.S. home values in every state were at least 2.5 times higher than the annual household income. In 16 states, home values were more than 5 times the annual income. This is a major uptick from 10 years earlier, when only two states—Hawaii and California—had ratios that high. Even in states where affordability didn't get significantly worse, it's often because the home-to-income ratio was already bad in 2013 and it has simply stayed that way. For instance, home values in Massachusetts went from 4.9 times the annual income to 5.5 times. That means affordability only got 12% worse—a silver lining for one of the most unaffordable states in the nation. The affordability crisis has spread across the country. Only three states (Alaska, Louisiana, and North Dakota) have become more affordable over the past decade, but all by less than 15%. Home ownership didn't suddenly become unattainable. The affordability crisis is the result of a series of economic circumstances and events that have compounded over time—a period of time that now stretches generations. Today's first-time homebuyers are typically 38 years old, according to the National Association of Realtors. Back in 1981, they were 24 years old. That's nearly a 15-year difference. Not only are first-time buyers older, they tend to make up a smaller share of home purchasers. Only 1 in 4 homes sold last year went to first-time owners. Back in 1981, first-timers made up close to half of all sales. It's hardly a wonder that there are so few first-time homebuyers—and that they are on the cusp of being middle aged—if you look at the economy and the real estate market over their lifetime. A 38-year-old who purchased a home in 2024 was only 18 in 2004. That was right when home prices were beginning their explosive climb. Four years later, the crash happened. Home prices plummeted as the real estate bubble burst and took the rest of the economy with it. Today's 38-year-olds who attended college were graduating at the time, and were facing a dismal job market. What's more, many of them were saddled with student loans. Saving for a down payment felt unattainable. By the 2010s, when the real estate market began to level out, the damage was already done. Many people of that generation had been shut out of the market. By the end of the 2010s, home values were on the upswing again, and when the pandemic hit in 2020, there was a frenzy in the market. Homes were selling over asking price, resulting in bidding wars. The problem for the same would-be buyers now is that higher interest rates have kept many current homeowners from selling. A recent market report from J.P. Morgan suggests that the situation won't improve until rates drop to 5%, which likely won't be the case for at least another year. With less inventory, prices continue to rise—and they are rising much higher than wages. The market is stuck. And so are the people trying to enter it. As home ownership slips out of reach, many Americans are relying on rentals for housing. But rental prices are also extremely high compared to wages. According to Census data, over 21 million households spent more than 30% of their income on rent in 2023. That's half of the 42.5 million renter households in the United States. Some places have extremely unaffordable rental markets. In Miami, renters spend 40% of their income on housing. In New York, it's 38%, and in Los Angeles, 36%. More than half of people who want to buy their first home say their existing living costs are too high and their incomes too low to afford a down payment and cover the closing costs of a purchase, according to a Bankrate survey published in 2024. Another 18% also cited credit card debt and 10% cited student loan debt as obstacles that are keeping them from affording a home. The result: People are continuing to struggle to set money aside for a down payment. The data helps explain why the housing market feels so broken for so many people. If the past decade is any indication, there is a growing gap between what people earn and what homes cost. And while every state is different, the story is largely the same: Prices have surged, wages haven't, and fewer people can buy. One way to alleviate the pressure in the market is to have more housing options available. Freddie Mac, which facilitates the mortgage market by buying mortgages and selling them to investors, noted that there was a shortage of 3.8 million housing units in late 2020. By 2024, that shortage still stood at a staggering 3.7 million units. States are actively trying to make it easier to build more housing, by revising zoning regulations, streamlining administrative processes, and incentivizing construction of more affordable housing options. But the bottom line is that the housing crisis didn't happen overnight—and it won't be solved overnight either. To see affordability changes over time, the research team gathered historical data on incomes and home values by state. Median household income came from the U.S. Census Bureau and home values came from the Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI) for single-family homes. The Zillow data was monthly, so the team averaged the months of each year for which data was available (typically, 12 months, except in 2020, which had less data due to the pandemic). The team calculated the income-to-home-value ratio for each state in 2013 by dividing household income by the home value. They repeated that step for 2023. Finally, they measured the percent change of that ratio to show how affordability has improved or worsened in each state. If the change was within ±3%, the state was considered to be unchanged (equal affordability in both years). This story originally appeared on immoverkauf24, was produced in collaboration with DataPulse Research, and was reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
