CP isn’t mc, it’s expensive because it’s an easy holiday for people who can’t face organising their own activities on holiday and want it all laid on and so pay more for it. Similar things which are actually quite expensive but not necessarily a class-based thing are cruises, buying carpets from Carpet - Right, kitchens from Howdens, and any other expensive object from an all-in kind of place that supposedly makes it ‘easy’ for those lacking the imagination or ability or contacts to look into independent suppliers and find a better range and probably a better deal.
It’s like all-inclusive or package holiday…although doesn’t include food. You book, turn-up and don’t have to think much about it. So you don’t have to check-out what activities are in the local area, how far it is to the shops or restaurants, or argue with your kids about what to do each day or put them in the car, or go on a genuinely long walk anywhere. It is a sanitised Butlin’s without the Bingo for people who want something similar, but think Butlin’s is beneath them and who can cobble together more cash.
There’s a big market for this stuff. Plenty of people are actually reasonably well-off or will get into debt to go on holidays like CP, or Disneyland. It works for small families or multi-generational groups and is carfefully marked to suggest it’s aspirational. So people go and don’t feel embarrassed to say they’re going to CP whereas they might with Haven. They could get a beautiful cottage or holiday home in a genuinely beautiful location, with stunning beaches, surfing, walking, countryside around and fabulous local restaurants, but finding the accommodation would involves some research or knowledge of places and some effort to organise activities and find places to eat out each day. And lots of people don’t seem to have the capacity to do these things or are willing to pay for the package which has everything on site.
It’s a different kind of holiday and often for different kind of people (although actually, lots of people who would organise their own holidays too often goo too) and CP has found a winning formula. People keep paying the increasing prices and seem to like it and have a good time….so like with Butlin’s in the 60s,70s and 80s, who is to complain really if people enjoy it. No-one has to go. Its moment will probably pass, but for now it’s doing well and people enjoy it and will pay. Anyone who didn’t enjoy it doesn’t have to go again.
I suppose one of the things about a ‘camp’ or ‘village’ location is that you can’t really avoid the other people there…esp at peak times. At the pool or even just about you will see and hear the masses. For some people, they only feel comfortable with those ‘like them’ and this is where mass gatherings don’t work for everyone. Lots of people want seclusion on holiday which is why cottages and genuinely independent holiday homes where you aren’t 3ft from next door or constantly seeing the same family everythwer you go are popular. But it’s a consequence of going to a camp, whether it’s Butlin’s or Center Parks or a Cruise or an AI resort….you’re stuck with the people there.