A Strategic Approach to the Caravan and Camping Industry 2012

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Increase Nature Based Camping Opportunities Recommendation 3: Identify Opportunities to Access Western Australia’s Conservation Estate Tourism WA and DEC to work together to define and implement strategies to balance the priorities of tourism and conservation to ensure that development of increased capacity is planned in line with key tourism priorities. Facilitate increased access to DEC managed land through increased funding for identification of additional NatureBank sites specifically for caravan parks and/or campgrounds. Improve awareness of opportunities to camp on DEC managed land and improve user’s ability to book and plan accordingly Issues and Risks The Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) managed land covers more than 27 million hectares and includes some of the most beautiful and appealing natural landscapes in the State. DEC is proactive in providing tourist access to its managed lands through the Rediscover Parks and NatureBank initiatives. DEC provides basic camp facilities at many locations and has identified a number of locations where they need to expand, or open up new areas for camping, to meet demand. There remain a number of factors which constrain their ability to satisfy identified needs, some of which are outlined to follow: DEC’s nightly campground tariffs for campsites are restricted to being based on a contribution towards cost recovery pricing model which benefits the public with access to low cost camping sites. Some commercial park operators consider that it creates unfair competition with the commercial facilities who cannot match their low prices. This pricing policy also makes DEC reliant on other funding sources to allow them to expand, improve or develop new camping facilities. DEC has previously had a limited annual capital budget of just $14.5 million for the State (the cost of one large caravan park), which includes roads. This has been reduced down to $10.5million for 2012/13. This does not allow a significant amount to invest into development or improvement of camping capacity and facilities leaving it reliant on grant funding. Increased funding is required to meet demand. DEC has received $4.8 million funding through Royalties for Regions for campgrounds in Lane Poole, Cape Range, Wellington, Yalgorup and Serpentine, though even with the grant funding and provision from the DEC capital budget, there are not sufficient funds available to develop facilities or capacity to meet current or future demand. This also impacts on potential commercial operators, as DEC needs capital for basic infrastructure and site readiness to be able to release commercial sites to other operators. A Strategic Approach to Caravan and Camping Tourism in Western Australia Page 91 $5.1 million funding from Royalties for Regions has been received for NatureBank sites, though these are typically geared towards higher end developments such as safari tents etc. Commercial caravan parks and campgrounds are considered economically marginal and therefore higher risk, this maybe in part why NatureBank tends to focus on safari camps and other high-end type accommodation facilities. As a result no caravan park sites have been identified under the program to date. Due to the complexity of issues, and broad ranging stakeholder views which must be taken into account, management plans often take 2-3 years or longer to produce, and many parks do not yet have management plans in place. Development cannot generally proceed without a management plan in place or a compatible operations/ necessary operations process being undertaken, and due to the wide ranging issues DEC must consider, DEC’s management planning priorities are not always the same as tourism planning priorities. Industry has suggested that due to DEC’s tight operating budget and limited human resources; some tasks that the industry and community would see as important, are not able to be completed within the timeframes industry would like. This includes progressing decisions or approvals for development on DEC lease areas in what is considered a commercially acceptable timeframe. . The requirement to meet KPIs on DEC leases and licences is a recommendation from the Review of Nature-Based Tourism, now adopted by the Government. It is consistent with the management objectives of parks to balance protection and use. DEC policy is that it rewards good practice and these costs can be reduced by meeting the KPIs and reducing the frequency of the audits. There is a high cost of audit compliance for commercial operators in national parks on top of high increased costs to meet required environmental, heritage and social standards in National Parks which can influence the type of developments which are feasible within National Parks. Consumers (including nature based campers) have wide ranging needs, and look for differing types, designs and layouts of caravan and camping areas. Different market
segments require different levels of facilities and privacy, some require powered sites or travel with pets or prefer to camp a significant distance from other visitors. This is currently not catered for within many camping areas on DEC managed land. Road access and remoteness restricts the provision of a higher level of infrastructure (power, waste treatment, water) in some areas. The process for gaining approval for commercial developments on DEC land involves the developer initiating and investigating the feasibility of a concept and presenting this to DEC to ascertain if it is a suitable fit with their management planning. If DEC is satisfied, they would then put the opportunity out for Expressions of Interest under a competitive process, which is a significant disincentive for developers who stand to invest in developing a concept for which the right to develop a site which be potentially awarded to a competitor. One of the most practical ways to mitigate this risk is for DEC to initiate the identification of caravan park and camping ground development opportunities, and provide guidelines for what would be permitted on a site by site basis for all parks, through the NatureBank program. DEC historically has offered very limited lease terms to commercial operators which do not provide sufficient time to ensure a reasonable return on investment. This impacts on the ability and willingness for developers to invest in providing significant infrastructure, where these constraints are in place. Government is introducing amendments to the Conservation and Land Management Act 1984 to allow for lease periods to be granted up to a maximum of 99 years‘ where significant bona fide private sector investment is required’ 84 . A significant focus for DEC is the management of the conservation estate and biodiversity protection. DEC has a broader focus than just the commercial tourism developments or promotion of existing tourism opportunities. Strategy It is proposed that Tourism WA together with DEC and other agencies to define and implement strategies to achieve the following: Review competitive neutrality guidelines and pricing policy to investigate the possibility of factoring in to the user pays pricing model, a small allocation of funds to be quarantined for investment into the development or expansion of caravan and camping facilities on DEC managed land, This would be contingent on ensuring that this did not make access to these sites too expensive to be in the public benefit, and 84 Review Of Nature-Based Tourism, Tourism Western Australia and Department of Environment and Conservation, 2011. Perth, WA. would only be appropriate where the benefit of opening up access to additional sites outweighs the additional cost of providing these sites. Seek funding for the development of prefeasibility studies for identified high priority locations on DEC managed land to attract private investment in the development of caravan parks or campgrounds as part of the NatureBank initiative. Allocate increased funding to investigate and if possible implement a call for Expressions of Interest for caravan park developments in National Parks at identified high priority sites through the NatureBank program, providing a framework for evaluation of these. Development conditions could be discussed with Tourism WA to ensure they are not overly prescriptive, providing a disincentive for tourism development. This would need to be consistent with the CALM Act and could be integrated into the Development Guide for Nature Based Caravanning and Camping. Seed funding for putting some infrastructure in place should also be allocated where required to ensure feasibility of caravan park or camping ground development. Support and progress timely implementation of the approved amendments to CALM Act to allow for leases up to 99 years and actively encourage longer lease terms in return for increased development commitments with KPIs and lease periods determined on a case by case basis. Continue to work to improve collaboration between DEC and Tourism WA on decisions relating to development priorities and capital works to increase or improve facilities and capacity for caravan and camping stays on DEC managed land. DEC to investigate where National Parks could provide camping opportunities in ‘extreme’ or ‘high’ priority tourism locations and prioritise the preparation of Compatible Operations Notices and/or Necessary Operations Notices, for Parks without Management Plans. DEC to continue to work closely with Tourism WA and tourism operators to review DEC’s sustainability criteria and work internally to investigate and implement initiatives to streamline DEC’s auditing systems offering online submissions and eliminating any unnecessary burdens on operators (subject to its retaining an appropriate level of robustness and also meeting the reporting requirements). Continue to communicate with tourism operators to ensure they are confident in their ability to work with DEC to meet criteria and reporting requirements. DEC and other industry partners to make more sites bookable online and facilitate trip planning through providing information on sites and facilities on ATDW and other distribution networks. A Strategic Approach to Caravan and Camping Tourism in Western Australia Page 92
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A Strategic Approach to Caravan and
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CONTENTS DISCLAIMER AND CONFIDENTIA
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Recommendation 4: Create Public-Pri
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explores the impediments to, and op
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CURRENT PROFILE OF THE CARAVAN PARK
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Western Australia According to the
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Visitor Statistics - Tourism Region
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"Hot Spots" - High Demand Areas Pea
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International visitor nights 32 Car
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Key Statistics for Identified Prior
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EXISTING CARAVANNING AND CAMPING IN
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Number of Powered Sites in Caravan
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Regional Profiles Regional Profile:
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Regional Profile: Australia’s Nor
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Regional Profile: Experience Perth
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Regional Profile: Australia’s Gol
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Issues Raised in Consumer Feedback
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Marketing Groups Of all Western Aus
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Australia’s North West Tourism Re
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SWOT ANALYSIS The following strengt
Page 41 and 42: KEY ISSUES, TRENDS AND IMPACTS Cons
Page 43 and 44: parks are the preferred permanent p
Page 45 and 46: kilometre exclusion zone from a lic
Page 47 and 48: Impacts on Sustainability The susta
Page 49 and 50: Regulatory and Other Issues A numbe
Page 51 and 52: Pet friendly locations. 56 Many car
Page 53 and 54: RV's with their own power supply (s
Page 55 and 56: Impacts from High Level Influences
Page 57 and 58: NATIONAL CONTEXT - BEST PRACTICE AP
Page 59 and 60: It states that “the best way of d
Page 61 and 62: MARKET SEGMENTATION In their Consum
Page 63 and 64: Combining the research findings of
Page 65 and 66: Caravan and camping Shows as per th
Page 67 and 68: ASW’s consumer website australias
Page 69 and 70: Family Parks They have a well prese
Page 71 and 72: PRIORITY AREAS FOR CARAVANNING AND
Page 73 and 74: Location New facilities proposed, i
Page 79 and 80: High Priorities Location New facili
Page 83 and 84: GAP ANALYSIS The Gap Analysis below
Page 85 and 86: RECOMMENDATIONS The concepts presen
Page 87 and 88: comply with the Caravan Parks and C
Page 89 and 90: Rally the Reserves Recommendation 2
Page 91: Location LGA Justification Recommen
Page 95 and 96: Sustainable Serviceability Recommen
Page 97 and 98: Camp with the Custodians Recommenda
Page 99 and 100: to participate in the broader econo
Page 101 and 102: An Overflow Policy That Works Recom
Page 103 and 104: People Are Our Best Asset Recommend
Page 105 and 106: Stop Flying Blind Recommendation 9:
Page 107 and 108: Inspire, Inform and Close the Sale
Page 109 and 110: Providing a search sub category on
Page 111 and 112: Australia' North West Australia’s
Page 113 and 114: Australia' North West Australia’s
Page 115 and 116: CONSULTATION AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS T
Page 117 and 118: REFERENCES ACC Tourism Development
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