While recent flooding has left many riverside towns struggling to attract grey nomads and other tourists, coastal caravan parks are seemingly having no such troubles.
The Adelaide Advertiser reports that caravan park owners from along the state’s coast had an influx of calls from people who had planned to go to the Riverland region, but have had to cancel at the last minute due to the flood risk.
The owner of the Port Vincent Caravan Park and Seaside Cabins, Sharon Haydon, told the Advertiser she had had quite a few people ringing specifically to say they couldn’t go to the Riverland any more and were hoping to book at her park instead.
And there are many other caravan parks fielding similar calls.
Many travellers are frantically looking to find a last-minute spot at a coastal caravan park. PIC: Cizza
However, the coast’s gain has certainly been the Riverland’s loss.
Renmark Paringa Mayor, Peter Hunter, told the Advertiser that the Riverland region was on track to lose ‘millions’ due to tourists cancelling trips.
He said one large caravan park had more than 1,000 cancellations and 600 booking changes within the past week.
“It will be worse than the pandemic,” Mr Hunter said.
However, the mayor said that anyone visiting the Riverland should ‘not be scared or worried’.
Despite the reassurances, though, travellers like Karen Elaine Butler have been unnerved by news of the floods. She is one of many who have recently cancelled her booking at riverfront Riverland park.
“We made the decision to cancel our trip as it does not feel safe at this stage,” she said. “We really cannot take the risk of being stranded or evacuated last minute.”
She said the park had been completely understanding as to her reason for cancelling, and she sid she hoped to make it back to the Riverland in the new year.
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