Timeshare Industry Continues Dramatic Growth

The vacation timeshare concept is ever growing and more people are becoming familair with it everyday.

The actual sales statistics are not available to the public, so it is a welcome event when the actual figures are compiled and released, because it isn't very often.

ARDA, the trade organization for the resort timeshare developer industry has released their recent figures for the year of 2004.

Timeshare sales climbed 21.4 percent during 2004 to $7.87 billion over 2003 sales of $6.48 billion, according to a new study.

Some interesting facts include the number of owners (3.87 million) and the fact that the most common size (number of bedrooms) is now a two bedroom unit which sleeps six people. Formerly the most common size of unit was a one bedroom that sleeps four people.

The top 10 timeshare resort states accounted for 65 percent (1,088) of resorts in the country, with Florida leading the way with 378 resorts, or 22.7 percent. South Carolina followed with 130 resorts, or 7.8 percent, followed closely by California with 126, or 7.5 percent. The other top 10 states are Hawaii (91 resorts), Colorado (90), North Carolina (64), Nevada (58), Missouri (53), Texas (51), and Arizona (47).

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