The massive economic benefit that caravan parks bring to coastal regions has been graphically highlighted by the findings of a new study.
A landmark research project undertaken by the Western Coastal Board and partners revealed that coastal van parks in Warrnambool and Port Fairy on Victoria’s Great Ocean Road generate at least $34 million in estimated economic benefits for the region.
According to report in the Standard newspaper, this income stream gave the parks an asset value of $280m. In addition, the holiday spots generated $1.1m in profits for local councils.
The study was primarily conducted to see how caravan park users valued the parks and beaches, and how the parks were adapting to potential climate change impacts.
The report warned that erosion can result in loss of reserve, camping sites, infrastructure and roads, in addition to loss of the amenity of the beach.
The users of parks as Warrnambool Surfside Holiday and Shipwreck Bay parks, and Port Fairy’s Gardens Caravan Park were interviewed for the study, as well as those at Apollo Bay Recreation Reserve, Barwon Heads Caravan Park and Portarlington Holiday Park.
The Warrnambool parks generated $2m in direct revenue and had $1.3m direct operating costs, while the Port Fairy park had $1.2m revenue and $800,000 in direct costs. Campers at Warrnambool also spent an average $60.90 a day, 99% of it locally, while at Port Fairy it was $58.70 and 91%.
At Warrnambool the average age of campers was 48 and their average household income $82,500, while at Port Fairy the average age was 51 and income $87,500.
Western Coastal Board chairwoman Jill Parker said the report clearly illustrated the tremendous economic and social values that coastal caravan parks and beaches provide.
“Caravan parks provide affordable holiday destinations and access to the coast’s myriad recreation and tourism opportunities,” she said. “However, the impact of climate change on our coast has the potential to diminish many of these values, so it is critical that we understand these values and make informed decisions.”
Comment below
The average yearly income for many grey nomads would be less than $25,000 we also spend a lot of money in towns as we eat and use fuel and if the park fees are too much we just do not go to these parks, we are not all well off retires a lot of us are pensioners.
Joyce beat me to it. It’s great that caravan parks deliver cash boost to communities, and good luck to them. But I wonder how much of that loot comes from independent and/or bush campers. It would be interesting to know. In any case, all travelers whether they stay in CPs or not contribute to local economies, which should make everyone happy.
hey, 10am checkout sucks if you are out for the weekend, it’s a 2 way street caravan parks, you want the business or not?
I posted this on the FB site but feel it is warranted here
The saying “Self praise is no recommendation” comes to mind here. The report and the CP’s have got the cart/bandwagon before the horse. The horse is the scenery, attractions, friendliness and word of mouth etc., how good an area is – and then the businesses jump on the bandwagon – not people go to an area/town because it has a CP as the driving force. The report/CP’s claim they attract the traveller and all spending is because of them, or attributes the spending to themselves. In fact, many RVers in a CP have to overnight there, or pay a massive fine! If I am travelling through one of these towns, have lunch for $100-00 and then buy seafood for another $100-00, and I don’t stay in a CP, how can my spending be claimed by the CP lobby? Or, can the restaurant claim all the spending in an area because I ate there?
Flip the coin for a minute, if all the spending is attributed because CP’s are there, take away the CP’s and the only “parking” for RV’s was 24hr Rest Areas on public land, low-cost camp areas, Showgrounds or Service Club areas, then the whole local tourism industry fails, and all income from travellers disappears? What a crock! So, the Freedom of Choice traveller contributes Nothing? In fact the Freedom of Choice traveller distributes more money across more businesses as 30-40% is not garnisheed by one business daily because that business model gets “protected species” legislation to enforce patronage.
The report and claims of “worth” have no cred!
Regards
“At Warrnambool the average age of campers was 48 and their average household income $82,500, while at Port Fairy the average age was 51 and income $87,500.” Says it all really, I have no more to say.
I eat, I travel. No one tells me where I have to eat at or at what time. So I take my own food with me. It stands to reason that I have to replenish this supply and I do so mainly at small towns. I buy fuel when I need it wherever I may be. So all along the road there is money being spent by travelers. No one is going to tell me I have to stop at a caravan park overnight (only to be turfed out at 10.am). So I camp along the read. If I had to stay at caravan parks that would put me off the road and the little towns would not get my money, we would both be suffering.
John
all i have to say is if coffs harbour with all its cp’s can provide a free park as well the torism dollars must be worth having free camps , and with the internet today we know over nite when a town is not cattering for us as at the moment thee is a boycott on mudgee
I agree with John, I am about to head off for six months. If I was forced to stay in cp every night, my journey would be quite a bit briefer. Little towns along the way would be the losers. Fuel, food, etc. cheers.