Caravan Industry Association of Australia (CIAA) released the latest Caravan and Camping State of Industry report.
After a challenging year for the tourism industry because of the changing travel restrictions and recent weather conditions, the caravan and camping industry once again exceeded expectations, according to a news release.
Last year brought record highs in various industry sectors, bringing an astonishing AU$23.8 billion to the Australian economy annually. It shows that the caravan and camping industry continues to thrive despite the fluctuating economic challenges.
“While the broader tourism industry remained constrained due to international border closures and global travel restrictions, the caravan and camping visitor economy strongly rebounded from 2020, generating 12.6 million trips, over 50 million nights, and $7.4 billion in visitor expenditure,” said CIAA CEO Stuart Lamont.
“The industry achieved record heights under a backdrop of Covid-19 travel restrictions, state border closures, business lockdowns, international supply chain disruptions, and a reduced labor force.”
Lamont said it highlights the industry’s resilience during a crisis and the importance the sector has in supporting Australia’s economy when other sectors falter.
Besides the increase in tourism, the supply of RVs to the market has also reached record levels, with over 42,000 units supplied to the market, 14% above previous records captured back in the 1970s. Over 55% of all RVs provided to the market are proudly manufactured here in Australia.
Despite the market’s supply and labor challenges, this could have seen even more significant activity than that recorded.
The industry continues to work hard to satisfy the strong demand for the caravan and camping lifestyle.
“The dream remains very much alive for Australians looking for a safe and affordable holiday experience. Despite headwinds in market, we continue to remain very optimistic about the future of the industry, and the contribution that it makes to the health and wellbeing of Australians, and the economies of many regional and rural communities around the country,” said Lamont.
Click here to view the report.
Isn’t it amazing how the Aussie caravan industry has thrived despite the challenges? It’s like a success story during tough times. I feel it offers such a cool holiday option for us Aussies. I’m excited to see how they keep growing to meet our love for caravanning and camping!