The caravan industry in Australia showed an industry’s resilience amid a tightening tourism market, according to a Caravan Industry Association of Australia news report. The “Road to a Million” campaign, an industry-led initiative that aimed to increase the popularity of caravan holiday parks across the country, highlights this accomplishment.
Over 1,300 caravan parks took part in the campaign, in which the Caravan Industry Association of Australia partnered with state and territory associations. Running from October through February, it targeted the peak summer period to maximize its initiative. The initiative was designed to engage Australians in the benefits of caravan holidays, such as the opportunity for physical and psychological rejuvenation, and reconnection with nature, friends, and family.
The December National Visitor Economy Report underscored the campaign’s timing, revealing that caravanning retained its allure, with more than 75,000 holidays booked, translating to over 367,000 nights across the participating parks during the campaign period. By December 2023, the sector had achieved a total of 60.6 million nights spent in caravans or parks, marking a 3% increase from 2019 figures.
Feedback from industry stakeholders underscores the campaign’s role in maintaining the caravan and camping sector’s competitiveness, especially against traditional tourism sectors like cruising and international travel.
“The Road to a Million campaign, led by the National Industry Body, was a moment for all caravan parks to come together. Campaigns such as these mean a great deal for our industry, as collectively, we are showcasing caravans and camping on a national level,” Joanne Keown, director of Tourism Creatures, said in the report.
Park owners, such as Matt Linsley of Acacia Caravan Park, observed a positive shift in customer sentiment attributable to the campaign.
“It’s been a fantastic add-on for people who come in—they get a chance to win something for not doing too much. It just helps us, even as a small park, to on-sell something,” Linsley said.
A survey with over 4,500 respondents indicated the campaign’s significant influence on travel behavior, with many participants noting that it encouraged them to embark on camping holidays they had not initially planned.
Several parks across Australia have been highlighted for their top-performing caravan parks. Among the celebrated are BIG4 Easts Beach Holiday Park in New South Wales, BIG4 Howard Springs Holiday Park in the Northern Territory, Cotton Tree Holiday Park in Queensland, Horsham Holiday Park in Victoria, Mandalay Holiday Resort & Tourist Park in Western Australia, Mersey Bluff Caravan Park in Tasmania, and Moonta Bay Caravan Park in South Australia.
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