Caravan tourism, a rapidly growing global trend, offers not just unique travel experiences but also significant economic opportunities.
India, with its diverse landscapes, should be perfectly positioned to embrace this trend. The primary challenge lies in the unclear legal framework governing caravans as there are no specific laws for them, and they are in essence “forced” to fall under the various definitions as defined in the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
This statute, primarily caters to conventional vehicles, and hence struggles to address the unique nature of caravans, which serve as both transport and mobile homes. The lack of a distinct classification leads to administrative complexities and makes it challenging to categorise caravans appropriately under existing categories such as goods carriers, passenger vehicles, or special-purpose vehicles. The classification, therefore, often depends on how a Regional Transport Officer (RTO) interprets it, resulting in inconsistent rules for registration, permits, and taxes across states.
The consequences of this legal vacuum are stark. Firstly, it hinders the growth of caravan tourism itself; without clear guidelines, businesses are hesitant to invest in caravan manufacturing, rentals, or essential infrastructure like caravan parks.
Secondly, it limits the potential of tourism to reach remote and unexplored areas.
State moves
Some States are beginning to recognize this untapped potential and are taking proactive steps, albeit within the confines of the existing ambiguous legal landscape. Kerala has led the way, launching “Keravan Kerala”. This comprehensive policy defines caravan types, offers subsidies for purchase and caravan park development, sets park standards, and actively promotes caravan tourism. Kerala’s example demonstrates that progress is possible even without a national law.
Maharashtra has also announced caravan tourism policy, focusing on integrating it with agri-tourism and rural tourism and planning caravan parks at MTDC resorts. Karnataka’s tourism policy acknowledges caravan tourism, and the KTDC is exploring caravan park development, encouraging private sector engagement.
Even Goa has considered caravan tourism to diversify its offerings and promote eco-tourism in its hinterlands. These States, through policy announcements and nascent initiatives, are signalling a shift towards embracing this sector.
But a patchwork of State-level policies is not a sustainable long-term solution. What we urgently need is a dedicated and comprehensive legal framework for caravans at the national level.
This framework should establish clear and standardised policies for caravan tourism at the national level.
First, it must define caravans or motorhomes as a distinct vehicle category with specific regulations to eliminate varying interpretations by Regional Transport Officers.
Second, it should create a uniform registration process across all states to streamline procedures and support inter-state travel.
Finally, tax breaks or subsidies can encourage investment in caravan manufacturing, tourism, and infrastructure.
Potential for Himachal
Himachal Pradesh holds immense potential to become a leader in the caravan tourism sector. Recognising this, caravan tourism was mentioned as a potential opportunity in the 2022 budget speech.
However, despite some discussions, no substantial policies or specific regulations have been implemented for this sector. Since then, some initiatives have been mentioned, such as the development of new tourist circuits and the revision of the state’s Eco-Tourism Policy in 2024.
The State could benefit from creating a dedicated caravan tourism policy, including streamlined registration processes and designated caravan routes and parking zones.
Additionally, equipping RTO officials with the necessary training to manage caravan-related regulations would ensure efficient administration.
Kapoor is a Retired army official and public policy activist; Kapoor is an Advocate and Public Policy professional
