Caravanning and camping nights reach record numbers

Caravan and camping trips are a famous Australian experience and have consistently been a favourite holiday option among couples, singles, families and friends for many years.

Now, they are proving more popular than ever.

New figures from Tourism Research Australia released today by Caravan Industry Association of Australia have revealed national overnight camping/caravan/RV trips reached 12.3 million (rolling annual) for the year ending June 2018, marking the first time overnight trips have exceeded 12 million in a 12 month period.

Total nights spent caravanning and camping around the country also increased by 6.5% to reach a record 52.8 million nights for year end June 2018.

Caravan and camping trips are extremely valuable to Australia’s economy (particularly in regional areas) with over 6.3 million caravan and camping domestic visitors choosing to eat out at a restaurant or café.

Visiting the beach or sightseeing in the local area were also popular activities, attracting 4.2 million and 4.1 million domestic visitors respectively. This highlights the importance that caravan and camping has in connecting Australians to scenic and nature based experiences.

Within the caravan and camping industry, the traditional 30 to 54-year and 55+ age brackets remain the highest trip takers, with these groups taking 5.7 million and 3.6 million caravan or camping trips respectively.

However, it is important to note that caravan and camping trips are also increasingly appealing to young people, with the 20 to 29-year age bracket increasing the amount of trips taken by 22% to surpass 2.2 million trips for the year ending June 2018.

For more information including state by state growth, contact jessicab@caravanindustry.com.au