Outdoor Hospitality News

For owners, operators, team members, and anyone else interested in camping, glamping, or the RV industry.

Ghost Bookings Plague Western Australia Campsites, Disrupting Travel Plans

Western Australia is grappling with a significant issue affecting its campsites: ghost bookings. This phenomenon involves individuals reserving campsites months in advance but failing to show up, leaving booked sites empty and unavailable for others, according to an article by Yahoo News.

Amidst a rising trend of Australians opting out of traditional housing due to the cost of living crisis, many are turning to campsites and caravan parks as a solution. 

However, the increase in demand for these facilities has revealed a major flaw in the booking system. Ghost bookings are forcing travelers to secure reservations up to six months ahead, leading to empty spots that could have been used by others in need.

Bruce, a traveler, highlighted this issue at Milligan Campground near Jurien Bay, managed by the Shire of Coorow. Despite appearing fully booked online, numerous sites were empty upon arrival. 

This situation is not unique to Milligan; similar instances have been reported at other campsites, including Sandy Cape. The Shire of Coorow did not respond to Yahoo News’ requests for comment.

This issue leaves travelers with difficult choices: they must either race to meet their reservations or risk staying in expensive overflow campsites or illegally park on the roadside. 

Jade Payne, who has been traveling with her family for five months, shared her experience of being forced to adjust their travel plans to ensure they could meet their bookings. Failure to do so would result in missing out on planned stops and facing the uncertainty of finding alternative accommodations.

The problem is exacerbated by local councils cracking down on other private accommodations, such as farm stays. In one instance, Jade’s family was forced to pay $100 per night for an overflow campsite in Esperance, WA, which lacked basic amenities like running water and electricity. The alternative was a $300 fine for free camping.

The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, which oversees over 2,000 campsites in the state, acknowledges the issue. They are working on improving the Park Stay WA system to manage bookings better and provide a more reliable customer experience.

The department admits that many campers do not use their reservations even after paying in full. In such cases, staff or volunteers, where available, try to reallocate these unused sites to others in need.

With 69 of the campgrounds bookable through the Park Stay WA website and the rest operating on a first-come, first-serve basis, the department emphasizes the importance of booking early, especially during peak periods. 

Travelers are encouraged to secure their reservations up to 180 days in advance to ensure they have a place to stay.

Addressing the issue of ghost bookings is crucial for the campground industry. It not only impacts traveler satisfaction but also affects the operational efficiency and revenue of campgrounds. 

Improved booking management practices are essential to ensure campsites are utilized effectively and travelers can enjoy their journeys without unnecessary stress and uncertainty.

Advertisement

Send this to a friend
Hi, you might find this article from Modern Campground interesting: Ghost Bookings Plague Western Australia Campsites, Disrupting Travel Plans! This is the link: https://moderncampground.com/australia/ghost-bookings-plague-western-australia-campsites-disrupting-travel-plans/