- Caravan holidays were already rising before the pandemic hit in early 2020
- Over the year, 67% of those surveyed were more likely to consider a caravan
- 400,000 Australians are taking to the roads in caravans this weekend
With overseas holidays no option, it is time to hit the road this Easter long weekend.
400,000 Australians will be taking their homes with them, according to the Caravan Industry Association of Australia (CIAA). There are more than 741,000 registered RVs (recreational vehicles) in the country, according to the body.
“The camping lifestyle can play a critical role in the economic and tourism recovery with an average spend per trip of $544 but not at the expense of safety.”
Keelan Howard GM – Marketing & Communications of CIAA.
“In addition to seasoned campers, a lot of Australians will be enjoying the camping lifestyle for the first time and now is an important time to put safety messaging and education ‘front of mind’,” he said.
In preparation, the Association has rolled out a social and digital awareness campaign via its consumer brand ‘Let’s Go Caravan & Camping’ that focuses on pre-planning, in-trip and at messaging at caravan holiday parks.
Key messaging includes towing, fatigue management, rest and truck stop usage, the importance of pre-planning and focus on pool usage and shared spaces in caravan parks.
Caravan Boom
It’s not only sedentary properties that are enjoying a boom currently.
Demand for caravans has shot up over the past year, as money saved from usual overseas trips has been ploughed into stay at home holidaying.
Data from CIAA shows sales were up 30% in 2020, with 67% of Australians surveyed ‘more likely to consider’ buying a caravan as a result of the pandemic, and the overseas travel ban.
Even before the pandemic hit, caravanning was up, registering a 9% rise in 2019 with 14 million trips, according to a 2020 State of Industry report.
As the boom in caravaning continues, the accent from the CIAA is on safety this Easter. Further initiatives include the defibrillator subsidy program, in partnership with the federal government.
This has been designed to encourage caravan holiday park operators to install devices to help save lives of those experiencing a sudden cardiac arrest. To date, over 700 defibs have been installed in caravan parks and campgrounds around the country.
