People want to get away, but not from the Web
When North Americans look to get away, they want to stay close to the Internet.
According to a July 13, 2007 Globe and Mail article, at least 80 Canadian campgrounds and RV parks, including roughly 30 British Columbia facilities, offer wireless Internet. U.S. summer vacation institution Kampgrounds of America (KOA) has free WiFi in 324 of its 379 North American campgrounds. This is double the number KOA had only a year ago.
"It's really a home away from home here, but I can't really live without email," said Brad Rome, a retail store manager who was camping at Ratter Lake Campground near Sudbury, Ont. "I find it incredibly difficult when I can't connect."
According to one campground company executive, travellers don't expect to shell out extra for Internet services.
"Campers expect WiFi as part of a service," KOA Vice President of Information Services, Jef Sutherland said in the Globe and Mail article. "You don't pay to go to the bathroom or use the pool, and they don't want to pay more for WiFi service."
Campers want Web access to do a variety of tasks, Sutherland said. He stated these include writing email, sending vacation photos, banking and doing some work.
It appears when people head to their own cabins or cottages, they are also taking work that requires Internet access. According to a July 17, 2007 CBC.ca article, a recent Royal LePage report on vacation properties states:
"With the booming trend of satellites offices and instant messaging capabilities, being 'wired' at the cottage is of utmost importance to some cottage owners and purchasers."
This only adds weight to a 2006 Netscape Canada and Leger Marketing survey. Of the 1,585 Canadian cottagers interviewed, 53 per cent said high-speed Internet would be convenient. Forty-one per cent of students and 39 per cent of professionals said they were most likely to bring work with them to the cottage that requires high-speed access.
Some people, however, still want to "get away from it all." In a July 14, 2006 PC World Canada article Jennifer Giancola stated she doesn't understand the desire to have Internet access at the lake.
"I think it's kind of ridiculous. When I'm at the cottage, I like to be outdoors."
