The Caravan and Camping Industry Association (CCIA) NSW has welcomed Premier Gladys Berejiklian’s announcement that people can get back to their travel and holiday plans in NSW from 1 June.
Australians’ love affair with caravan and camping hasn’t faltered, with recent industry research showing 80% of NSW enthusiasts are looking to take a long-anticipated break in the next two months.
“We saw a huge spike in Google searches for caravan parks and campsites right after Wednesday’s morning’s announcement, with people looking to plan and book their next getaway,” CCIA CEO Lyndel Gray said.
“We are definitely seeing a pent-up demand for caravan and camping escapes and our holiday parks are ready to welcome holiday makers back from June 1.”
Ms Gray said the caravan and camping sector was an extremely important part of the State’s tourism economy and is vital to the economic success of hundreds of regional economies across NSW.
“Our holiday parks are the lifeblood of many towns and have a huge flow on impact to other businesses in the community with every $100 taken by a caravan park creating $138 in economic benefit for the local economy.
“Our regional holiday parks and campgrounds have been badly impacted by the events of the past few months, from the drought to catastrophic bushfires, and now COVID-19 , but the passion and commitment of these businesses mean they are in a good position to quickly ramp up their operations and welcome visitors once again.”
Ms Gray reiterated comments made by the Premier on Wednesday that it’s important people plan ahead and book their stay. It’s easy to search and find the right holiday park by heading to www.caravancampingnsw.com where over 400 holiday parks are listed.
In another great sign, intention to purchase caravans and recreational vehicles remains positive and the industry’s dealers and service providers remain open to help people who want to buy a new vehicle, camping equipment and supplies or to get their vehicle serviced.
“The great thing about caravan and camping holidays is there is natural social distancing from self-contained cabins, state of the art recreation vehicles with all their own amenities on board, or to large campsites, many with their own ensuites.
“Along with increased sanitising, cleaning and record keeping, our visitors can be reassured that NSW holiday parks can provide a safe and friendly place to take a break.
“We congratulate the Government and people of NSW on the way they are navigating the COVID pandemic and helping to get us to a place where we are able to once again welcome back visitors across the state.”