Regional Visitor Economies

Our Focus

Encouraging the caravanning & camping ‘community’ to play their role in revitalising regional Australia & championing their contribution to regional economies & the nation

Tourism

15M Trips & 60M Nights

Caravan and camping generates more than holiday nights than any other type of accommodation in Australia. Over 90% of nights spent caravan and camping is in regional Australia

Expenditure

$10.7B Annually

Largely focused in regional Australia, where visitor expenditure in 2500 caravan parks supports myriads of additional businesses external to the immediate caravan industry.

Caravan Parks

Developing Communities

Caravan parks are the organs of regional tourism. Each dollar of caravan park revenue generates $1.38 of economic activity in the local community, stimulating job creation & business opportunities.

Latest Announcements

Park operators voice key challenges in Canberra

Caravan holiday park operators from across the country raised a range of challenges and frustrations hindering development and profitability at the inaugural National Caravan Industry Summit. Convened by Caravan Industry Association of Australia and held at Parliament House in Canberra on 22–23 September, the event brought together independent park operators, corporates and industry representatives to […]

Trade businesses put customers at centre of summit talks

The inaugural National Caravan Industry Summit brought together dealers, repairers, manufacturers, importers and suppliers from across the country for sector-specific discussions on boosting industry profitability. Convened by Caravan Industry Association of Australia and held at Parliament House in Canberra on 22-23 September, the summit provided long-time industry supporter, Senator Helen Polley, with valuable firsthand insights […]

Advocating for parks: Key issues on the Federal agenda

Federal Parliament is back in session, and our General Manager — Government Relations, Luke Chippindale, has returned to Canberra to represent the interests of our industry at the highest levels. Top of Luke’s agenda are initiatives that drive productivity gains for park operators. Watch Luke’s update from Canberra (below) to hear about the conversations he has been […]

Federal Parliament returns: Updates from Canberra

Federal Parliament is back in session, and our General Manager – Government Relations, Luke Chippindale, returned to Canberra for the first sitting period since May. Catch up on what Luke has been working on over the past two weeks Week Two Wrap Luke wraps up a busy two weeks in the nation’s capital. Week Two […]

Evaluating caravan supply chains: Would ‘onshoring’ pay off?

Can we build more of our caravans here in Australia — and make it stack up economically? That’s the big question driving a new research project by Caravan Industry Association of Australia’s Luke Chippindale, who is investigating whether key caravan components could be made locally rather than imported from overseas. Right now, we are heavily […]

Unlocking economic growth: Our call for regulatory reform

Australia’s caravan and camping industry plays a vital role in supporting domestic manufacturing, tourism, and regional development. However, regulatory fragmentation and market inefficiencies are limiting the sector’s ability to reach its full economic potential. To address these challenges, Caravan Industry Association of Australia recently made a submission to the Federal Government’s Productivity Commission. The submission […]

Budget Breakdown | Federal Budget 2025  

With this year’s Federal Budget heavily geared towards cost-of-living relief, both parks and trade sectors should feel some positive flow-on effects.   Tax cuts and other efforts to reduce living costs are likely to provide consumers with increased discretionary funds, with holidays and drive tourism products probable outlets for this spending.  Funding placed into major roads […]

New policy priorities call for boost in road safety and support for regional economies

As Australians prepare to head to the polls this year, Caravan Industry Association of Australia has publicly unveiled its new policy roadmap, The Road Ahead: A View to the Future. The document was soft launched to federal politicians in October 2024 as part of Friends of Caravanning #2. DOWNLAD: The Road Ahead: A View to […]

Infrastructure grants secure prosperous future for caravan parks

Caravan Industry Association of Australia has proudly worked alongside the Federal Government to deliver the $10 million Caravan Park Grant Program. Over the past 18 months, the program has provided grants of between $10,000 and $100,000 to 110 caravan parks across the country. These grants have been used to fund infrastructure improvement projects at each […]

Conference 2024 – That’s a Wrap!

Thank you for joining us at the 2024 Caravan Industry National Conference!  We’re delighted to report that we’ve set a new record – with 1086 delegates registered.  The event was teeming with enthusiasm, collaboration, and a shared commitment to the future of the caravan industry. 

Caravan Industry meets with heads of state

Caravan Industry Association of Australia CEO Stuart Lamont had the privilege of attending an intimate boardroom dinner for the Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese last week. This was an opportunity to highlight the diverse nature of our important industry sector around jobs in Australian manufacturing, disaster and agriculture accommodation, and affordable housing.  It was […]

Everything you need to know about the ERC partnership

Consumer demand for environmentally friendly products is continuing to increase, Governments from both sides of the aisle have committed to net-zero emissions targets, and investors are seeking brands with an eco-conscious reputation. For the caravan industry that means in order to remain equitable and compliant, we must work toward a net-zero target.

Budget Breakdown | Federal Budget 2024 

This year’s Budget squarely focused on balancing cost-of-living relief and maintaining the view of curbing inflation. More than likely, this will be the final budget before the election, and a clear priority has been placed on supporting low-income earners and incentivising investment in the key areas of housing and renewable energy creation and transmission (largely through the Future Made in Australia Act).

Ben says bye to Oasis

When Ben Reichstein took over Oasis Tourist Park in Virginia in the Nothern Territory (20 minutes south of Darwin), he didn’t know what to expect. Over the past five years, he has experienced tribulations and triumph – securing himself a bronze at the Brolga Northern Territory Tourism Awards.  In 2019, Mr Reichstein took over the […]

Accessibility on the Tablelands

Sitting in the stunning landscapes of the Atherton Tablelands, Lake Tinaroo Holiday has been transforming over the past five years. Since current director Lachlan Farquharson took over as Directory in 2019, there has been a concerted effort to increase the park’s accessibility options. Mr Farquharson indicated two strong reasons for this: there has been an […]