After our last survey about motorhome owners' willingness to pay, we came to a very surprising result: almost 40% of motorhome parking spaces do not charge any money for the duration of the stay. We therefore asked parking space operators how they feel about the free competition and what motivation lies behind the free tariff? Opinions range from absolute incomprehension to arguments for economic recovery.
The broad field of parking space operators
There is no typical parking space for travelers traveling in a motorhome. We at Stellplatz.Info also see it that way. Any place where a mobile home can be parked for at least one night and where there is clear responsibility can be entered on Stellplatz.Info . The resulting diversity among operators is also reflected in the answers. Communities, wineries, inns, amusement parks, campsites and operators of motorhome marinas have written to us. The different interests behind the operation of a parking space became obvious.
The result in 101 words
We asked all the motorhome parking spaces from the German-speaking area that are listed on Stellplatz.Info. Of course, regardless of size, operator or pricing. We received 52 responses, which contained a total of 80 arguments for or against free parking spaces. Our previous survey confirmed the basic trend: 40% defend free parking spaces. However, operators who were against the zero tariff also cited arguments that justified offering a motorhome parking space free of charge. So we came up with 36 mentions of why it was okay to operate free parking spaces - compared to 44 who found at least a contribution towards costs to be fair. The anti-free faction is somewhat ahead here.
The battle of arguments
With this balance between the factions, a wide variety of arguments were of course put forward. The most frequently mentioned thing by opponents of free parking spaces was the distortion of competition. The operator of the Winterberg mobile home park sees this primarily as a result of the free spaces run by municipalities. Private individuals would have to invest large sums of money for land and infrastructure, which would then have to be recouped. The parking spaces financed from tax revenue would have to at least cover costs so that the current competitive situation is equalized. Publicly operated parking spaces naturally see this issue somewhat differently. The tourist and economic revitalization of the place should justify the investment. Every fifth argument for the free offer went in this direction. However, the structure of the parking spaces should be taken into account here. For example, a district only offers a public parking lot, with no supply or disposal options. Others charge fees that cover costs for the infrastructure, such as the city of Bad Berneck . Tourism is stimulated here with free parking for transients, but fresh water and electricity have to be paid for at the machines.
Quality justifies the price
The state spa administration of the Bavarian state spa Bad Brückenau is confidently taking a different approach. The focus here is not on the number of guests, but rather on the profitability, which we are committed to as the Free State's own business. In addition, the place is worth the 8 EUR per day because the quality is at the highest level. Motorhome enthusiasts often find individuality and good locations in inns or wineries. The hoped-for increase in sales is one reason for the free parking space. The Landgasthof Haueis relies on these guests and requires dinner and breakfast to be consumed in the inn in return for free parking. This deal seems to work very well for restaurants with RV parking and is viewed positively by most survey participants.
Not a piece of cake for private providers
In some of the feedback we received, we were told about concerns about being forced out of the market by competition from free municipal parking spaces. The need to set prices that are economically profitable is becoming increasingly painful. In view of the increasing number of free mobile home parking spaces in neighboring communities, the Taunus-MobilCamp in Altweilnau also reports this. Five new motorhome parking spaces of this type have been built in recent years. This development has a noticeable impact on the number of guests. For 10 EUR per night you would get a fully equipped motorhome parking space, but even this amount is too much given the large free competition. Several private providers who see their main business as renting out the parking spaces are considering closing the space.
Our survey shows how diverse the industry is and how intensively there is competition for motorhome guests in some places. As positive as the increasing number of free parking spaces are for motorhomes, they are just as damaging for private providers. In any case, the focus of the criticism is on free parking spaces financed by public funds. Which direction this development takes ultimately depends on demand and those responsible in the municipalities. We are excited and will continue to listen!
Thanks to all the parking spaces that took part in our survey: parking space at the Eichenbach sports hall , parking space at Hülben , Kapellenhof winery , parking space on the Giswil panoramic road , Jagstcamp Widdern , parking space at the Schmitt winery , campsite "Am Waldbad" - Grillenberg , parking space at the Aldersbach town hall , Blauer See campsite , Winterberg mobile home park , Heimbach mobile home port , camping park & mobile home port “Am Großen Lausiger Teich” , Weingut Menk parking space , parking space at the rehabilitation clinic at Chemnitz , Rantrum mobile home harbor , parking space at the Weseranger , parking spaces in Stolberg , Erzeberg holiday complex , Dingdener Heide recreation area , Bayrischzell mobile home park , Geiselbach , Jaderberg animal and leisure park , Hirschhof Hildebrandt , Vienna motorhome parking space , Taunus-MobilCamp , Hotel Restaurant Post mobile home parking space , parking space at the Volli-Car company , parking lot at Landgashof Haueis , Bad Blau leisure pool , Wertingen mobile home park , house on the slope , Festwiese car park , town of Kulmbach , Sixt oil mill , Zimmermann winery , Harzpension family Mann , Camping Sulzbachtal , community of Haßmersheim , PANORAMA WINE , town of Schlüsselfeld , town of Ovelgönne , Hooksiel pitch , PhoeniX motorhome port , Struppen camping pitch , Thur Camping AG , town of Abenberg , Schellental Camping Park , Kerstgenshof Camping Park , Waldhaus Wittgenthal Hotel-Restaurant , Bretten parking spaces , Wörners Castle and Ladenburg mobile home parking space .
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