A Strategic Approach to the Caravan and Camping Industry 2012

Accreditation has helped improve facility standards. It has made a difference and both
the Caravan Industry Accreditation (CRVA) and the Australian Tourism Accreditation
Program (ATAP) have enlisted a number of caravan parks. However, the accreditation
process is more targeted towards the facility rather than establishing skills and
qualifications for the individuals that make up the business. The ATAP and CRVA
programs do however include customer service standards for caravan parks.
Documentation for accreditation is often written by consultants external to the
business or do not involve all staff at the facility. According to the consultation
feedback, park owners, managers and staff often do not meet acceptable customer
service delivery standards with reservations processes, front desk attitude and
cleanliness at some caravan parks being particularly criticised by consumers.
The promotional campaigns by the peak national caravan industry organisation
Caravan and Recreational Vehicle Association (CRVA) and the Caravan Industry
Association Western Australia (CIAWA) have been effective in stimulating high
demand for caravan and camping holidays. Consultation with caravan parks and
consumers indicate a perception that the tourism sector is not afforded sufficient
priority in state and federal promotional campaigns.
There is common agreement between park operators and consumers that creating
increased tourism demand for regional destinations generally helps support the
caravan park industry. Some operators cited a recent initiative from Tourism Australia
(i.e. the launch of the Australia Safari Trails) that promotes travel through regional
areas of Australia and stops in overnight in caravan parks.
Caravan Park Industry Issues at a State and Regional Level
Policy and Regulatory Framework - Issues and Impediments (Tourism
Perspective)
Caravan park operators bemoan the lack of action by local government to administer
the provisions of the Caravan Parks and Camping Grounds Regulations 1997 by
preventing unauthorised camping. However, park operators are not meeting the
requirements of the growth market segment for larger self-contained units.
Many caravan park operators (and some consumer groups) consider that the current
legislation is overly prescriptive, preventing caravan park operators from meeting
market requirements. They point out that the number of ablution facilities required in
a licenced caravan park is much greater than that required for nature-based parks and
transit parks, which are allowed to accommodate stays of up to three months.
If the provision of ablution facilities is determined on public health criteria, the
argument that nature-based parks and transit parks can provide a lesser number of
facilities is not consistent with that criteria.
Other requirements in the Caravan Parks and Camping Grounds Regulations 1997 are
regarded to be inconsistent with providing flexible service delivery to caravan and
camping tourists.
Caravan park operators refer to local government’s obligations under the competitive
neutrality principles that are set out in the Competition Principles Agreement entered
into by the governments of the Commonwealth and each state and territory on 11 th
April 1995. The objective of the competitive neutrality principle is to ensure that all
government bodies involved in significant business activities compete on fair and
equal terms with the private sector, where it is in the public benefit to do so.
Early in 2011, the Economic Regulator of Tasmania received complaints from caravan
parks in regard to the provision of free or subsidised sites by local government and
after investigation, the Regulator determined that the subject Councils were in
breach of the National Competition Policy.
Local government policy concerning the use of public areas as overflow camping
facilities is inconsistent and a source of much concern for caravan park operators.
There is an opportunity for a consistent state-wide overflow policy to be developed
that recognises the needs of all stakeholders.
The CIAWA prepared a draft policy for the use of overflow facilities and guidelines,
which it distributed to local government for consideration. A similar policy needs to be
developed for the use of roadside stops and rest areas for caravan and camping
tourists to take into account the needs of tourists, licenced caravan parks and heavy
transport operators. There are potential negative issues arising from the acceptance
of unauthorised camping by government agencies.
The emergence of farm and station stays and the growth of nature-based camping
facilities impacts on licenced caravan parks. The addition of such facilities is highly
desirable to improve the visitor experience but there is much debate over their
placement in relation to licenced caravan parks. The current regulations have a fifty
A Strategic Approach to Caravan and Camping Tourism in Western Australia Page 43