Freedom, cheapness key motivators for self-contained RVers

WA travellers not keen on
paying for rest areas

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THE majority of travellers in WA would be unwilling to fork out cash for staying in overnight rest areas, according to new research.

This is just one of the findings of a study by Tourism Research Australia and Tourism Western Australia.

They turned the spotlight on caravan parks and self-contained travellers to gain an up-to-date understanding of their current and emerging characteristics and behaviours.

The study involved in-depth interviews with caravan park representatives and visitors in self-contained RVs.

Researchers questioned caravan park users across all five tourism regions in WA, with a total of 252 face-to-face interviews and 29 self-completed questionnaires being undertaken between January and May this year.

An online survey was also available between March and May, with 213 replies.

The study found that users of basic caravan parks did not require facilities such as camp kitchens and BBQs ... just areas to accommodate large RVs.

Meanwhile, caravan park operators complained of restrictions, multiple regulations and legislation being a barrier to upgrading facilities.

They also pointed out that interpretations of regulations varied between local governments.

The divide between respondents who preferred resort-style facilities was evenly split, with those over 60 years preferring parks with basic facilities.

More than half (60 percent) of respondents who had travelled or planned to travel to other states on their current holiday perceived WA caravan parks to be more expensive than other states.

Despite this, the majority considered the caravan park they were staying at to be good value.

Respondents in self-contained RVs were mostly older ... 72 percent being over 60 years, 92 percent were 'empty nesters' and 71 percent were from WA.

Their average stay in the state was 79 nights.

The research found that in a typical week, 61 percent of respondents spent some nights in a caravan park.

On their most recent trip to WA, nine out of 10 visitors stayed at a designated free camping rest area, while six in 10 spent their nights on the side of the road.

The research found that freedom and cheapness were the key motivators to travelling in self-contained RVs. One in 10 respondents reported that noisy and crowded caravan parks were a turn off.

Across the state, the main reason self-contained travellers chose to stay in a caravan park was to access amenities such as showers and power.

When asked what facilities they sought, nearly eight in 10 respondents mentioned laundry facilities (79 percent) and dump points (78 percent). Ablution blocks were mentioned by 64 percent of respondents.

Just over half (55 percent) of respondents said they would be unwilling to pay for overnight rest bays, but if a fee was introduced they would be prepared to pay only $5.19 on average.

Two-thirds would be willing to fork out for dump points and potable water.

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