CARAVAN parks and commercial camping grounds saw the largest increase
in domestic nights out of all commercial accommodation types in 2015-16.
Tourism Research Australia's annual report shows they were up 8.9 percent
to 31.8 million.
Caravan Industry Association of Australia chief executive Stuart Lamont
commented: "Caravanning and camping is foundational to regional tourism
economies, as the numbers show."
Tourism generally recorded $116.7 billion in visitor spend for the year,
and the caravanning and camping sector – the little Aussie battler – is
holding its own, and more.
The sector has been ingrained in the fabric of the Australian tourism
industry since the earliest days and now outperforms other commercial
accommodation types.
Tourism Research Australia's latest report shows growth all round, for
both international and domestic visitors.
Caravan parks had
the second highest length of stay ...
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The 2015-16 period recorded 7.2 million international visitors, of which
37 percent ventured out of the capital cities and into regional areas,
where caravanning and camping has a stronghold.
This represents an increase of 300,000 visitors when compared to the
previous year.
Caravan parks had the second highest length of stay within commercial
accommodation types for international visitors, recorded at 15.1 nights.
Hostels were the leader at 21.2 nights.
Although hotels, motels, guest houses and serviced apartments continued to
be the most commonly chosen form of accommodation for visitors, it was
mostly short stay and business visitors making up the numbers.
This meant that the length of stay for this type was well behind caravan
parks.
In terms of domestic travel, more Aussies continue to choose a holiday at
home with 88.9 million domestic overnight visitors in this period,
representing growth of seven percent.
Interestingly, most domestic travellers' trips were intrastate,
accounting for 69 percent of trips overall.
So, our holidays at home are getting even closer to home!
However, interstate travel is growing faster than that of same-state
travel, indicating discovering more of our own big island is on more and
more bucket lists.
Mr Lamont said government commitment to regional tourism infrastructure
was needed more than ever.
"This is to ensure the many local communities of Australia's regions can
continue to benefit from our strong tourism industry," he added.
