As the summer holiday approaches, an increasing number of young people plan to set up tents at suburban parks and camping sites, together with their friends or family members to experience the charm of nature.

Campsites across the country are ready to innovate new activities to attract more visitors. In Shenyang, capital of Liaoning province, for example, the No 77 Campsite has launched a "family farm" activity, inviting children to plant their favorite vegetables and experience the joy of growing and harvesting. It has also organized a parent-child carnival with the theme "Flowers Bloom in Spring", providing a great leisure destination for local residents and tourists during the hot summer days.

Since this year, although the mid-to long-distance tourism market has witnessed a rapid growth in China, the camping economy remains strong.

According to a report on the camping industry influence index research in Southwest China (2023), which was recently released by the Chongqing Cultural and Tourism Information Center and the Geography and Tourism School of Chongqing Normal University, the camping economy has become an engine to boost cultural and tourism consumption.

The report said the total number of campsites in the southwestern region now includes 277 in Chongqing, 548 in Sichuan, 343 in Guizhou and 341 in Yunnan.

Industry insiders said the camping industry is undergoing transformation and upgrading. "In recent years, the camping industry has risen rapidly and is gradually developing toward a diversified direction," said a spokesperson at the Geography and Tourism School.

In the future, industrial development will focus more on the integration between campsites and specific sectors like music and sports, the spokesperson noted.

Jiuru Mountain Art Town in Jinan, Shandong province, is exploring the development models of campsite plus scenic spots and farms. The tents there are scattered across forests, parks, wetlands and scenic spots.

"Camping is no longer just a way to get close to nature, it is also a new way of vacationing and living. I hope campsites can ensure environmental safety and provide complete facilities, while developing richer nighttime activities," said Li Tengteng, a camping enthusiast in Dongying, Shandong.

Liu Hanqi, secretary-general of the self-driving tour and recreational vehicle camping association, a branch of the China Tourism Automobile and Cruise Association, believes that camping tourism is a business format that integrates many elements including leisure, entertainment, sports and exercise.

However, the fast-developing industry faces some problems, like campsites which fail to meet the diverse needs of tourists, and how it stands out from the competition.

A female tourist surnamed Chen said: "Many campsites just offer tents, equipment rentals and barbecued food on a stretch of grass, and the charges are quite high."

"In my imagination, camping involves sitting amid green mountains and clear waters, and chatting with friends. However, many campsites have too many artificial landscapes, and the activities are also monotonous," she added.

To promote healthier and more sustainable development of the camping industry, the China Tourism Automobile and Cruise Association recently completed the fourth batch of campsites quality grade assessment nationwide. Eight campsites were rated 5C, the highest level in the industry, and 17 were rated 4C.

Lin Xin, director of the tourism, culture and sports bureau of Meilan district in the city of Haikou, Hainan province, said to promote the camping industry toward standardized, regulated and branded development, campsites should meet the standards in terms of safety, hygiene and environmental protection, providing a safe and healthy camping environment for tourists.

Other measures that Lin suggests include selecting campsite locations scientifically, strengthening training and services for staff members and enriching the "camping plus" business format.

haonan@chinadaily.com.cn