Reduced fees have increased camper numbers. PIC: Tourism Victoria
It will come as no surprise to most grey nomads that the Victorian Government’s decision to slash camping fees has caused an immediate boost to visitor numbers in the state’s national parks.
Many long-term travellers have long complained about what they see as excessive fees for campsites which, while they may be in beautiful areas, often have limited facilities. There can be little doubt that many campers are extremely price sensitive.
When Parks Victoria halved camping fees on July 1, there was a 63% surge in bookings.
Parks Victoria chief operating officer Simon Talbot said the reduction would make camping “more affordable and accessible, and drive more people to explore our great parks”.
So, given the instant success of Victoria’s bold move, could we see national park fees tumble in other states?
Well, perhaps … at least in some jurisdictions.
In South Australia, the Department for Environment and Water acknowledged that ‘based on the Victorian experience’, it would appear that reducing camping fees was an effective way of getting more people out in national parks.
“We review fees annually to balance pricing with experiences on offer,” said a Department spokesperson. “South Australia is regularly reviewing what others are doing with – and in – national parks, including Victoria.”
Although camping fees in South Australian national parks are relatively low and visitor numbers are good, the Department says it is looking at attracting visitors during midweek and off-season periods, and rewarding longer-term campers like grey nomads.
“We are looking at what other states and territories are doing in this area and whether a loyalty or discount system could be considered,” said the spokesperson. “It would be good to recognise our regular or longterm visitors and reward them for their patronage.”
Queensland’s Department of Environment and Science (DES) said that, although it has comparatively low fees and reinvests revenue from camping permits into park facilities, it was continually looking at other states and territories’ visitor management strategies, and updating ways to promote Queensland parks and forests.
“While camping in Queensland’s national parks and forests already offers great value to all visitors, the Department is open to considering more flexible offerings for travellers to regional and remote locations,” said a spokesperson.
However, Western Australia’s Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions said it wasn’t considering reducing park entry or camping fees ‘at this stage’.
The New South Wales Department of Planning, Industry and Environment said camping fees contributed towards the provision and maintenance of visitor facilities and experiences. These included managing the impacts of park visitation such as servicing barbecues, ablution blocks, cleaning, mowing and rubbish removal.
“New South Wales national parks have a simple, easy to understand tiered fee structure, including a large number of free locations,” said a spokesperson for the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment. “Campground surveys show a very high level of satisfaction with their experience, and 95% of guests would recommend where they stayed to family, friends and colleagues.”
