The rise of the online booking on national parks across the country has famously created an unwanted and unpopular side effect … a surge in the level of ghost camping.
With would-be campers booking a site in advance ‘just in case’ they want it on any given day, inevitably not all bother to cancel their bookings, leading to the frustrating problem of empty campsites on booked-out campsites.
Of course, the fact that people are effectively forced to book way in advance because of the popularity of certain sites at certain times of the year also means there is a high chance that their plans or circumstances change, or they have some unexpected drama. If these people fail to go to the trouble to make a cancellation, the effect is the same … empty campsites despite the fact that other people would love to have taken that spot.
Ghost camping is frustrating for campers who find fully booked sites empty
While the authorities in the various states and territories all take a slightly different approach, the ghost camping issue appears to be a universal one, and very tricky to get to grips with.
Many grey nomads report near-empty campsites that are supposedly fully booked, and that isn’t just a once-in-a-blue-moon occurrence.
It’s a widespread issue.
The problem, of course, isn’t restricted to Australia … and some places are adopting an innovative, and more aggressive, approach … including a ‘three-strikes-and-you’re-out’ system.
In the US state of California, the Department of Parks and Recreation will – from the start of next month – implement stricter rules and penalties for people who fail to cancel their reservation in a timely manner.
Up until now, campers who didn’t show up at their reserved site by noon the day after their reservation date would have their booking cancelled, and be charged a US$8.25 cancellation fee and one-night use fee. However, the park would still refund the person the amount they paid to reserve a campsite spot, minus a non-refundable reservation fee.
From July 1 though, things will change.
USA Today reports that, while the park will still hold a person’s reservation until noon on the following day of the scheduled start date, the park will no longer offer a refund to guests considered a ‘no-show’. They will then lose their full deposit on the reservation of the campsite … and incur a ‘no-show’ penalty mark on their account.
If a person incurs three ‘no-show’ penalty marks on their account within one year, the California Department of Parks and Recreation will impose a 365-day restriction on their account’s use of the state’s online booking system.
While the offender might still be able to use campsites in California State Parks, they will be required to speak with an employee at the state park’s visitors centre to obtain a walk up or first-come, first-served unit.
As a part of the new rules, visitors will now also be required to cancel at least a week before their reservation if they would like a full refund. If they cancel between two to six days before their reservation, campers will receive a partial refund. If they cancel with less than two days to go, they will not receive a refund.
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Yes, as the system does not work