Tourists on budget opt for caravans

[Kit Kat]

Tourists on budget opt for caravans in wake of high Australian dollar

INTERNATIONAL tourists are changing the face of Australian holiday parks as they look for alternatives to expensive hotels in the wake of the high Aussie dollar and more authentic experiences.

Travel experts say many overseas visitors still want to come to Australia, but they want to do it more economically.

"They look at Australian prices and say 'oh my God' based on the pound or the euro,'' Caravanning Queensland CEO Ron Chapman said.

"Then they look on the internet and see they can stay in a three-bedroom cabin in a caravan park that might accommodate six or more people for a couple of hundred dollars.''

Mr Chapman said many holiday parks were in great positions by the beach, near national parks and even in cities and had great facilities such as gyms and children's playgrounds.

"Australian holiday parks are world-class,'' he said.



"It gives overseas visitors a whole lot of options - they can stay in basic cabins from $50 a night up to as high as you want.''

Mr Chapman said the tourists who chose to stay in holiday parks were usually from countries where the genre is popular, such as the UK, Europe, New Zealand and North America.

"There are very few caravan parks in Asia but it's a developing market, China especially,'' Mr Chapman said.

Caravan, Camping and Touring Industry NSW CEO Lyndal Gray said there were lots of opportunities in the international market and she was currently developing self-drive motor-home packages with Chinese travel companies.

"We have seen some interest from very innovative wholesalers in the China market,'' she said.

"We also think there's some opportunity in the cabin type accommodation... lying back in your cabin with kangaroos in the park is a really quintessentially Australian experience.''

Source: Herald Sun. Read more here: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/travel/news ... 6633359568

[Greynomad]

...and us people who want to bring our own accommodation along can just bugger off!

[generdawg]

1)...she was currently developing self-drive motor-home packages with Chinese travel companies.

2)... lying back in your cabin with kangaroos in the park is a really quintessentially Australian experience.''

1) there goes the country. I'd rather deal with B tripples on a single lane outback road.

2) everyone is entitled to their opinion, but cabin camping doesn't strike me as being much of an Australian experience compared to parking under the stars out in the bush.

[GregnDee]

I love the Chinese...I lived in china for four years....but honestly, their driving leaves me cold...both here and in china! I am fearful of the way they might drive an RV! And that's an understatement!

Cheers
Dee