EVALUATING THE
CARAVAN PARK AND
SELF-CONTAINED
TRAVELLER SECTOR IN
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
OCTOBER 2013
Image coutesy of Tourism Western Australia
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INTRODUCTION
Caravan parks are an important component of Australia’s tourism industry, providing a
range of accommodation types and other services to meet the needs of a wide cross
section of visitors. In 2010, it was estimated that 506,600 people stayed in a caravan
park in Western Australia (WA), equating to approximately 4,209,100 visitor nights with an
average length of stay of 8.3 nights. This represented around 9 per cent of the total number
of tourists to the state.1
A review of the industry by Tourism Western Australia (TWA) identified a need to
understand the type of visitor that uses caravan parks and camping grounds. In
particular, TWA was interested in obtaining a deeper understanding of the behaviour and
requirements of caravan and camping visitors to inform product development priorities and
improvements.
As a result, in 2012−13, Tourism Research Australia (TRA) partnered with TWA to conduct
research to gain an up-to-date understanding of the current and emerging characteristics
and behaviours of caravan park users and those who travel in a relatively self-contained
fashion in recreation vehicles.
HOW WE CONDUCTED THIS STUDY
The study had a three-stage approach as follows:
nn Industry consultation: In-depth interviews were conducted with 11 representatives from
the caravan park and self-contained visitors sectors in WA to shape the subject areas for
the study.
nn Caravan park user2 survey: Interviews with caravan park users were conducted across
all five tourism regions in WA. A total of 252 face-to-face interviews and 29 selfcompletion questionnaires were undertaken between January and May 2013.
nn Self-contained traveller3 survey: An online survey was available between March and May
2013. Completed surveys used in this report were obtained from 213 visitors.
Defined as short-term holiday makers staying for a month or less in at least one of WA’s caravan parks.
For the purpose of this survey, self-contained travellers refers to those travelling in campervans, motorhomes, caravans
and recreational vehicles that have their own ablution, bathing and cooking amenities, with minimal need to access
formal camping and caravan parks and who spent over three nights in a self-contained vehicle in free or low cost
accommodation. This includes designated rest areas, on the side of the road and in national parks.
2
3
1
Source: Tourism Research Australia – National and International Visitor Survey YE Dec 2010
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EVALUATING THE CARAVAN PARK AND SELF-CONTAINED TRAVELLER SECTOR IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA
TOURISM RESEARCH AUSTRALIA
STAKEHOLDER VIEWS ON THE CARAVAN AND
CAMPING INDUSTRY
Industry operators were asked what they thought were the key requirements for each park
user segment, and the barriers to growth for WA caravan parks.
MEETING THE NEEDS OF CARAVAN PARK USERS
Resort-style park users need chalets and facilities such as pools, playgrounds, food,
booking services for tours and late checkout.
Basic park users need lot dimensions sufficient in size to accommodate large recreational
vehicles. They don’t need facilities such as camp kitchens and BBQs.
BARRIERS TO GROWTH
nn Variable tourist demand
Some areas can only grow caravan park visitor numbers by an overall increase in visitor
numbers to the region.
nn Seasonality
The seasonal nature of tourism means it is difficult for caravan park operators to see
how more visitors could be attracted outside of peak visitation periods.
nn Regulations
Many caravan park operators considered restrictions as a result of multiple regulations
and acts to be a barrier to upgrading their existing facilities. It was also felt that the
interpretation of the regulations varied between different local governments.
nn Low return on investment and land availability
A number of operators mentioned the lack of available, cost effective sites as a barrier to
building new parks.
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CARAVAN PARKS
VIEWS OF CARAVAN PARK USERS
The respondents to the caravan park survey were more likely to be older (42% were 60+
years), empty nesters (55%) and from Western Australia (41%). They had a long length of
stay in WA on their last holiday, staying on average 50 nights.
FIGURE 1: FACILITIES SOUGHT BY RESORT-STYLE PARK USERS
Swimming pool
38%
Amenities
36%
Shade trees
29%
Camp kitchen
26%
Laundry facilities
FACILITIES SOUGHT
The sample was evenly split between those who preferred resort-style facilities (46%) and
those who preferred basic facilities (41%).
Those aged 60 years or over were more likely to prefer to stay in caravan parks with only
basic facilities (52% preferred to stay in parks with basic facilities compared to 36% that
preferred a resort-style caravan park). Those travelling with families were more likely to
prefer resort-style parks (72% preferred to stay in resort-style caravan parks compared to
24% who preferred to stay in parks with basic facilities).
For those who stated a preference for resort-style parks, a swimming pool was the most
sought after facility. For those who stated a preference for basic facilities, amenities were
seen as the most important. Shade trees were also important for this segment.
Interestingly, Wi-Fi was not seen as important by either segment.
22%
Playground
19%
BBQ facilities
16%
Sewerage dump facilities
6%
Wi-Fi
5%
Games room
4%
Ability to bring pets
4%
Vehicle wash down bays
2%
FIGURE 2: FACILITIES SOUGHT BY BASIC PARK USERS
Amenities
48%
Shade trees
37%
Camp kitchen
18%
Laundry facilities
16%
Swimming pool
12%
Sewerage dump facilities
12%
BBQ facilities
9%
Vehicle wash down bays
4%
Ability to bring pets
4%
Wi-Fi
3%
Playground
0%
Games room
0%
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EVALUATING THE CARAVAN PARK AND SELF-CONTAINED TRAVELLER SECTOR IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA
TOURISM RESEARCH AUSTRALIA
CARAVAN PARK RATINGS
FIGURE 4: SATISFACTION WITH ASPECTS OF CARAVAN PARKS
Caravan park users who preferred resort-style accommodation rated their experience
significantly better than those who preferred basic accommodation.
70%
Cleanliness of its facilities and amenities
54%
FIGURE 3: RATINGS OF WA CARAVAN PARKS
68%
Quality of onsite accommodation
provided
Basic style
27%
46%
52%
23%
70%
Design and layout of the grounds
54%
59%
Proximity to town and services
Resort style
10%
38%
55%
49%
50%
Proximity to attractions and activities
53%
Fair | Good | Very good | Excellent
South West caravan parks were rated the highest, with 44% of all respondents rating the
parks as excellent. The lowest rating was in the Golden Outback where 16% of respondents
rated the park as poor or fair.
Those preferring resort-style parks rated the caravan parks well on cleanliness of facilities
and amenities and the design and layout of the grounds (70% rating the park as very good
or excellent in each case). The basic-style users rated the parks lower on all aspects, with
only just above one in two respondents saying the parks were very good or excellent on
every aspect.
Resort style
Basic style
More than half (60%) of the 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 of respondents considered the caravan park they were
staying at to be good value.
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SELF-CONTAINED TRAVELLERS
The respondents to the ‘self-contained’ survey were mostly older (72% were 60+ years),
empty nesters (92%) and from Western Australia (71%). They had a long length of stay in
WA on their last holiday, staying on average 79 nights.
In a typical week, 61% of the respondents reported spending some nights in a caravan
park.
On their most recent trip to WA, nine in ten respondents stayed at a designated free
camping rest area. Six in ten respondents spent their nights on the side of the road.
FIGURE 5: TYPES OF ACCOMMODATION USED ON THEIR LAST HOLIDAY
At a designated free camping rest area
90%
On the side of the road
59%
Self-contained vehicle in a caravan park
57%
A low cost nature based camping area
52%
National Park
41%
Stayed with friends/relatives
Caravan (not fully self-contained) in a
caravan park
30%
6%
Other accommodation in a caravan park
3%
Other
2%
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EVALUATING THE CARAVAN PARK AND SELF-CONTAINED TRAVELLER SECTOR IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA
TOURISM RESEARCH AUSTRALIA
REASONS
WHY THEY TRAVELLED SELF-CONTAINED
WHY THEY USED CARAVAN PARKS
Freedom was a key motivator to travelling ‘self-contained’. Cost was a significant factor
with 45% of respondents saying they travelled that way because it was cheap. One in ten
reported the crowds and noise in caravan parks puts them 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%) and sewerage dump points (78%). Ablution blocks were mentioned by 64%
of respondents.
One in four respondents reported that there was no other option available other than to stay
in a caravan park.
FIGURE 6: REASONS FOR STAYING IN A CARAVAN PARK
Access to amenities
55%
No other option was available
26%
Security reasons
15%
Access to nearby locations
9%
Extended Stay in Town
Interact with other people
Reasonably priced
Bad Weather
Other
Never stay in caravan park
FIGURE 7: REASONS TO TRAVEL SELF-CONTAINED
Freedom to travel and stay anywhere they
choose
58%
Ability to travel without set plans
46%
Cheap form of travel
45%
Convenient to have everything in one
vehicle
Dislike crowds and noise in caravan parks
41%
11%
Change to meet like minded travellers
9%
Enjoy staying in natural surroundings
8%
7%
Permanently live in self-contained vehicle
4%
3%
0%
2%
19%
6%
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USE OF FACILITIES FOR SELF-CONTAINED
TRAVELLERS
FIGURE 9: EXPERIENCE WITH FACILITIES IN WA
Overnight rest bays
The majority of respondents reported using rubbish facilities, overnight and day rest bays,
free sewerage dump facilities and potable water. In contrast, few respondents reported
using ‘pay-to-use’ sewerage dump facilities and vehicle wash down bays.
33%
Potable water access
29%
Day use of road side rest bays
28%
Sewerage dump facilities (no cost)
26%
32%
20%
Experiences with these facilities in WA were mixed.
Equal numbers of respondents reported overnight rest bays exceeded expectations as
those who said they were below expectations. Experiences with access to potable water
were more likely to be below expectations (29%) than above (20%).
Out of the five facilities surveyed (Figure 9), only one (sewerage dump facilities – no cost)
recorded higher results for ‘Better than expected’ (29%) than for ‘Worse than expected’
(26%).
Rubbish disposal facilities
22%
24%
29%
17%
FIGURE 8: USE OF FACILITIES IN WA
Worse than expected
Rubbish disposal facilities
Better than expected
90%
WILLINGNESS TO PAY
Overnight rest bays
87%
Sewerage dump facilities (no cost)
85%
Day use of road side rest bays
83%
Potable water access
Sewerage dump facilities (pay-to-use)
Vehicle wash down bays
81%
20%
17%
Overnight rest bays: Just over half (55%) of respondents said they would not be willing to
pay anything for overnight rest bays. If a fee was charged, respondents would be prepared
to pay $5.19 (on average) to use an overnight rest bay.
Day use roadside rest bays: Respondents were not willing to pay for day use roadside rest
bays, with 84% not willing to pay anything for the facility.
Sewerage dump facilities: If a fee was charged, respondents would pay on average $3.55
for sewerage dump facilities. Two-thirds of respondents would be willing to pay for such a
facility.
Potable water access: Similar to sewerage dump facilities, two-thirds of respondents would
be willing to pay for potable water. On average, respondents would pay $3.92 to access
potable water.