Budget Holiday Makers Drive Demand for Caravan Park Accommodation

BUDGET holiday makers are driving a surge in occupancy for humble caravan park accommodation – and many are staying for longer than they have in the past.

A change in the facilities offered by some caravan parks – including pools, playgrounds and tennis courts – has also contributed to the newfound buoyancy.

But so too has a lack of supply – caused by some caravan parks selling to developers, who exploit their often spectacular locations with apartments and commercial facilities.

Australian Bureau of Statistics tourism data showed occupancy levels in Queensland’s caravan parks increased substantially in the year to September 2009, the most recent figures available.
Revenues raised through tourist accommodation parks in the state increased $3.1 million to $73.1 million, according to the ABS, with the strongest gains made in short-term parks in Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast.

According to an article published in the AFR, a weak Australian dollar is contributing to holiday makers “choosing more economic destinations rather than going overseas.”

The Sunshine Coast Regional Council runs nine caravan parks and says occupancy for its powered sites was 82.3 per cent.

Airlie Beach, Sunshine Coast and Far North Queensland parks led the pack, Caravanning Queensland chief executive Ron Chapman said in the AFR.

“In recent years holidays have changed with people staying shorter periods, but this year there’s been a lot more people staying three weeks or more,” Mr Chapman said. “What else has helped is the standard of caravan parks – if you don’t have your own trailer, you don’t stay in an onsite van anymore, you stay in an upmarket luxurious cabin.”

“People who would otherwise stay in an apartment or hotel are starting to see this and realise there’s so much more to do at the parks.”

Nightly accommodation costs at a caravan park can range from $20 to $450 per night.

Some caravan parks, like the Cairns Coconut – Queensland’s only five star resort – include facilities like outdoor movie nights, bocce, aqua aerobics and beach volleyball.