A Strategic Approach to the Caravan and Camping Industry 2012

ADEQUACY AND AVAILABILITY OF DATA SOURCES
There are significant gaps in the adequacy and availability of data for the caravan and
camping sector. These are outlined below. Strategies to address these gaps are
presented in the recommendations. The below summarises some of the more
significant areas of concern.
Changes to the ABS Survey of Tourist Accommodation
The Survey of Tourist Accommodation (STA) is a quarterly survey undertaken by the
ABS to measure the demand and supply of tourist accommodation. Funding for the
expanded scope component of the STA ceased at the end of the June quarter 2010.
Whilst this data is still valuable for this study, future studies and development
proposals will be significantly impacted on by the unavailability of up to date data.
Reliable data is of utmost importance in proving up investment opportunities and may
inhibit future development and access to borrowings.
Small sample sizes for regional visitation in the National Visitor Survey
(NVS) and International Visitor Survey (IVS) - Tourism Research
Australia
The small sample sizes for data for regional visitation in the NVS and IVS results in
limited usable data available for visitors outside the metro area. This is the only source
of data for evaluating trends and investigating visitation outside of licenced parks, and
with the cessation of the ABS STA for caravan parks and campgrounds, there will be no
reliable data available in the future.
Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) data
DEC does not collect nor report data on the number of people camping inside National
Parks other than periodic snapshots which do not allow any meaningful analysis or
show any trends. As a significant provider of camping capacity, this lack of information
leaves a significant gap in data.
Department of Local Government Data incomplete
The survey data collected by the Department of Local Government showed a total of
303 caravan parks (the survey investigations indicated the presence of 345 caravan
parks) with limited data breakdowns for site types usable within the data collected.
The data does not include the significant number of caravan and camping sites
available outside of licenced facilities.
Low level of response from most Local Government Authorities
An email was sent out to 139 local government agencies 16 October, 2011 with four
short questions and a table to confirm caravan and camping facilities within their
jurisdiction. They were asked to return this information within 3 weeks in order to
meet the audit (stage 1 deadline). Only 37 Local Governments responded within the
required time frame and many of these did not complete the information requested.
Numerous follow up emails were required to be sent (and in many cases phone calls
were made).
Caravan Parks low level of response
Seven days after sending out the request for confirmation of number of sites, only 60
out of 345 caravan parks responded. Some caravan parks do not publish (and refused
to supply) email contacts, and many phones are not answered or messages not
returned even during standard business hours. Some caravan parks do not have
websites, and were not listed in online directories, Google maps or the Australian
Tourism Data Warehouse (ATDW). Data included in this audit is based on a wide
variety of sources including direct from operators, Local Government, users, online
forums, the Consultants’ knowledge of the industry and estimates.
List of ablution facilities and dump points not complete on the
National Public Toilet Map
The National Public Toilet Map www.toiletmap.gov.au provides a comprehensive list
of facilities across Australia. Discussions with the agency responsible for publishing the
data identified concerns with the lack of completeness of the data published.
No definitive list of authorised overnight rest areas
CMCA lists 196 overnight rest areas. Main Roads lists 22 throughout Western
Australia. Many published by CMCA are designated by Main Roads as day rest areas,
and the remainder are private land, Shire land and unmanaged or illegal sites. There is
no published list of legal overnight locations (including Main Roads, Shire Authorised
and other authorised sites). The ‘Camps 6 ‘ directory has become the definitive guide
for unauthorised camping in Australia, it provides information on free camping
locations that people rely on, though these are not in line with what is actually
authorised or permitted.
A Strategic Approach to Caravan and Camping Tourism in Western Australia Page 37