Newly released data shows just what a devastating effect the coronavirus pandemic is having on Australia’s caravanning industry.
The April 2020 Caravan Park Accommodation figures shows caravan park revenue in April across Australia suffered a 90% decline from April 2019, which equates to $208 million in revenue lost for the month of April.
Occupancies fell by 75% in cabins, 82% in powered sites, and 89% in unpowered sites.
The figures show the revenue reductions were worst in New South Wales, where caravan parks revenues decreased by 95% compared to April 2019.
The Caravan Industry Association of Australia is calling on all levels of government to consider the caravan and camping industry as part of the solution that can help lead the way in the recovery of domestic tourism.
It says caravan parks can accommodate independent travel in a manageable way, allowing for travellers to get back on the road and spending again to help rejuvenate struggling regional communities.
The Association argues that many RVs have their own bathrooms, showers and kitchens and this makes them uniquely suited to independent trips.
While it may be some time yet before grey nomads and other travellers are criss-crossing the country crossing state borders as they do so, the gradual easing of restrictions we are already seeing is offering some glimmer of hope tor the caravan park industry.
In Western Australia, where interstate travel restrictions are still in place, the State Government gave its approval for camping to resume last week … albeit with some new guidelines.
It’s great news for places like Cheynes Beach Caravan Park, which is now seeing some customers arriving after having been forced to close for new bookings at the start of April.
The park can only take bookings from within the Great Southern region and in groups of no more than 10 people. It also has to adhere to social distancing on campsites and when campers are using amenities.
Park owner Allan Marsh told the West Australian it was just a big relief to see a few of caravans coming in the driveway.
“The Great Southern is a great region, and we are certainly not the only place in the region so the sooner people start getting out and about here, the better,” he said. “People will start to spend a little bit of money and things will start ticking along again … you can’t underestimate how big of a hit the local tourism industry has had.”
WA’s national park campsites were also reopened last Friday,
I miss Cheynes Beach so much, rare birds and white whales are among the wonderful memories, hope to return soon once borders open and we are safe
To a certain degree the losses are self inflicted. I live in a caravan park (in the residential section). At the beginning of the lockdown period I suggested to the managers that there are a lot of grey nomads with no permanent home out there and that perhaps they should consider making sites here available at a reduced rate for grey nomads who wished to stay a month or more. To accommodate those who don’t have the luxury of self contained units they could even let them have the en suite sites on the understanding that they clean them themselves – thus containing the cost to the park. This was deemed to be irresponsible though I’m not clear how or why. So instead of colleting revenue that would admittedly still be vastly reduced they prefer to collect nothing.
Well said
Great idea Lynda.
I am hopeful it will pick up quickly, with a few processes put in place, strict guidelines, we can see them opening up.
Many caravan parks refused to help full time travelers during the shutdown, some actually went out of their way to make difficult situations worse by expelling full time travelers from their parks knowing full well that they had no where else to go. No that the end of the crisis may be in sight they want the nomads back. Well many have learned how to live without the support of caravan parks and see no need to return to the old ways and many caravan parks may well struggle in the future as they come to terms with the new reality.
Too true.
Many a traveller who would often /usually /occassionally use c.p have now done without c.p learning they dont need to drop in as often.
Some c.p were helpful during the lock down, some were not.
Support those that did their best to accomodat travellers
We are Grey Nomads from NSW travelling in WA and are very fortunate to have been allowed to stay in a regional caravan park (with restrictions) for the past 6 weeks. There are only about a dozen of us and we are so grateful to the park and the staff here have been wonderful – we will stay until it is safe to move and feel extremely fortunate to have been given this safe haven so there are a number of parks who have taken grey nomads in and they are to be commended for their compassion and assistance in these very trying times.
Thank you Michelle for speaking up about your safe haven in our regional area of W.A. Where abouts are you ,as i would enjoy patronising this park and town when the roads are open .
Well done please name this park thank you,
We wish to commend Discovery Holiday park
Ebden Vic.we are staying in our R V as we have no fixed Address They have given us an ensuite Site
at a reduced rate for our lengthy stay which we are cleaning and maintaining ourselves,we want to thank them for the help and foresight in welcoming us,we recommend this Park It is just beautiful has lots of Facilities ( which can not be used during Corvid
Did they really need to release data showing the impact of the virus on the caravanning industry. Talk about stating the bl**ding obvious.
And yes the misery continues. I’ve had a standard booking at a CVP on the NSW central coast since 2016 for a powered site. The same site every year until 2025.
The cost last year for one person was $234.
This year it’s now $390.
Now I’m not saying that that’s gouging but if it’s not, HOLY SNAPPEN DUCK SHIT , what the hell is it.
So to that end I’ve cancelled the booking.
And I WILL find an alternative for my once a year trip.