Hello everyone. This is Tsukui from WAITER-U. I run a cafe in Shimokitazawa that has a campsite-like atmosphere. Today is March 23rd. The temperature has risen considerably. I saw quite a few people wearing short sleeves and shorts during the day, and we had a great number of customers at the cafe. I am truly delighted. Thank you very much.
Today is our 15th broadcast, and I'd like to talk about the camping boom. I often hear people say, "The camping boom ended quite a while ago," and some people might think so depending on their perspective. Also, I feel like we're seeing more and more features about the "end of the camping boom" in major magazines, on social media, and in various other places.
Regarding this, I'm currently looking into camping trips, hoping to go in about two weeks, but I can't seem to get any reservations for the weekends. Everywhere is so popular. So, my opinion is that people who are still camping are continuing to do so, and it's just that the boom has passed, not that camping itself has become obsolete.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, contactless hobbies were re-evaluated, and activities like camping, golf, and surfing gained attention. Temporarily, there was a huge increase in new campers, leading to a surge in demand for camping gear and a significant economic impact. Various media outlets featured these activities, and social media influencers enthusiastically promoted them. I believe this boom occurred from around 2020 to 2022, coinciding with the end of the pandemic.
I was one of those who jumped on the camping bandwagon at that time, and those of us who started camping then and thought, "That was a good idea," have continued to do it as a new hobby. So, I think the correct way to look at it is, "Those who love it will keep doing it."
From a long-term perspective, it's probably more accurate to say that demand for camping has returned to pre-COVID levels. Of course, if a movie about camping becomes a huge hit, the camping industry could thrive again, which would be wonderful.
However, I think that the idea that "camping is dead" is a bit too simplistic as to understand the phrase "the end of the camping boom."
Today's topic was about camping, and in this podcast radio show, we hope to see the camping industry thrive, and we want to answer simple questions like, "I want to start camping, but I don't know where to begin," or "I don't have a car, but is it possible to go camping with just a backpack and train even if I live in the city?" I feel that there aren't many places out there that answer these kinds of questions.
I will be updating irregularly, but I will try to post a few times a week, so I hope you will look forward to the next update. Until then.
