Campervan & Motorhome Club

of Australia (CMCA)

The Benefits of RV Tourism

Richard Barwick - CEO

Photo: Vince Evans

W101638

CMCA

• The Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia was

established in 1986 and now has over 70,000 members and

39,000 memberships

• We represent 45% of motorhomes and campervans and 6.8%

of the 620,000 RVs registered in Australia

• Our members travel on average 140 days per year and more

than 90% of member vehicles are self-contained, with on-

board toilet and grey and black water containment facilities

• Not-for-Profit membership based organisation

OUR VISION

A respected, world class RV Club that educates and

supports its members, providing camaraderie,

knowledge and positive experiences.

To uphold an overriding commitment to grow and

evolve, to build a smarter, healthier lifestyle for our

members, and provide freedom of choice.

To educate our members to be responsible and

sustainable in the RV community.

MEMBERSHIP GROWTH

31,000

32,000

33,000

34,000

35,000

36,000

37,000

38,000

39,000

Membership Growth CMCA membership continues to grow at

a rate of 6.5% per year.

Over the past 5 years CMCA has

acquired more members who own a

caravan or an alternate RV, who are

welcome to join CMCA. Source: Colmar Bunton 2016 Member Satisfaction Survey

87%

13%

Membership Category

Full Member

Associate Member

The RV Traveller Market

• Rapid market growth, mainly caravans and camper

trailers being built with on-board facilities including toilet,

shower (permanent and portable), water tanks and

holding tanks (permanent and portable)

• Domestic visitors account for 91% of total domestic visitor

camping nights, contributing to total overnight expenditure

of $5.4 billion

• Total overnight expenditure of touring self-contained RV

market is estimated to approx. $2 billion

• It is estimated more than 125,000 RVs touring around

Australia each year

• Key segments – self-contained RVs, non self-contained

vehicles, families, domestic touring and inbound tourism

Member Accommodation Preferences

6%

12%

21%

23%

36%

5%

10%

30%

12%

12%

31%

11%

18%

28%

15%

14%

13%

24%

22%

17%

14%

11%

12%

32%

27%

9%

14%

11%

7%

25%

16%

4%

24%

29%

Member Stopover

CMCA Member Only RV Park

Public low-cost camping area with limited facilities

Caravan Park

Bush camp

Public free camping area without facilities

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

RANKING OF PREFERENCES OF ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS

1 - Most Important 2 3 4 5 6 - Least Important

Member Accommodation Preferences

Members indicate that they have a preference for

non-commercial or low cost accommodation

• Public free camping area without facilities & public

low-cost camping areas with limited facilities

• Commercial parks are not the first preference as

an accommodation option

Currently the options are:

• 1/3 caravan parks

• 1/3 combination caravan parks and low cost

camping

• 1/3 low cost camping only (will never stay in a

caravan park).

Spend – Low Cost Camping

Total Average Spend: $14.20

Our members said they are willing to pay up to $15 per night to stay at a public low-cost camping

area with limited facilities

ECONOMIC BENEFITS

Average spend - $770.00 per week

• Groceries

• Fuel

• Personal medical requirements

• Services

• Attractions

• Accommodation

• Shopping

CMCA RV PARKS

A new accommodation concept for self-contained RV tourists who are

members of the CMCA.

CMCA RV Parks are low-cost, member only, no frills managed RV

accommodation facilities and do not operate commercially.

CMCA covers all costs relating to infrastructure development,

maintenance and running costs to the RV Park

CMCA will increase RV tourism to the area and expenditure to local

businesses at no cost to council or the community

CMCA RV PARKS

Essential Attributes

• In a safe and sustainable location

• Ease of access for all vehicles

• Flat land of approximately 10,000m2

• Likely to receive all necessary consents and approvals

• Adjacent to or within easy access of major roads or highways

• Able to install a dump point and potable water

CMCA RV PARKS

Preferred Attributes

• Away from residential neighbourhoods

• Provide a tranquil and scenic setting

• Adequate fencing and security

• Reticulated sewerage

• Water and electricity (1 x 15amp outlet)

• Reasonable proximity to tourist and recreational attractions

• Within reasonable walking distance of retail outlets

CMCA INGHAM RV PARK

2016 Vehicles Adults Children Av Length of Stay Av Community Spend

per week

October 31 57 2 1.21 $ 1,374.03

September 83 150 0 2.08 $ 3,555.76

August 256 457 2 2.60 $ 12,305.00

July 276 466 2 2.08 $ 10,000.97

June 93 177 4 2.35 $ 7,503.50

May 24 45 5 1.80 $ 840.48

April 14 28 0 2.00 $ 734.00

Estimate only collect 40% of all shopping dockets. Economic multiplier: 3 to 4 times

CMCA RV PARKS

PROPOSED SITES:

Bundaberg QLD

Chinchilla QLD

Muswellbrook NSW

Wallangarra QLD

Woodburn NSW

OPENED:

Ingham QLD

Railton TAS

Euston NSW – opening 20 May 2017

George Town TAS – opening soon

Penola SA – opening soon

CMCA is looking to have 20 RV

Parks in operation by 2019

SELF-CONTAINED VEHICLE POLICY (SCV)

Self-Contained Vehicle Policy

The vehicle complies with the Self-Contained

Vehicle Policy

• Vehicle is fitted with a fixed supply of fresh

water

• Vehicle is with an installed and plumbed sink

• Vehicle has a grey waste water tank or a

portable grey water tank (tote)

• Vehicle is equipped with a toilet installed

• Vehicle is fitted with a sealable container to

hold rubbish

LEAVE NO TRACE (LNT)

Leave No Trace

The member complies with the LNT Code

of Conduct

• To stay in any approved rest area

• To always take care of the natural

environment

• To park the vehicle so as not to obstruct

reasonable passage

• To dispose of all rubbish, grey and

black water in an appropriate manner

• To support local communities and

businesses

GEOWIKI

CMCA GeoWiki is a database of

campgrounds, caravan parks,

national parks, free and low cost

camping sites and so much more.

It is available to CMCA members

only through the Club’s website as

well as through App stores as an

offline capable mobile app.

There are over 41,000 points of

interest on GeoWiki, with a

member downloads over 17,000.

CMCA RV FRIENDLY TOWNS

• RV Friendly Towns have the services and

amenities required by all RV tourists

• These towns have realised the economic

benefits of encouraging RV tourists to visit

their region

• Currently we have 308 RVFTs throughout

Australia

Criteria:

• Provision of appropriate parking within the town

centre

• Provision for short term, low cost overnight parking

(24/48 hours) for self-contained vehicles

• Access to a free dump point

• Access to potable water

CMCA RV FRIENDLY DESTINATIONS

• Aimed at smaller towns that are not able to

meet the criteria of the CMCA RV Friendly

Town program

• Currently we have 149 RVFDs around

Australia

Criteria:

• Provision for short term, low cost overnight parking

(24/48 hours) for self-contained vehicles

• The parking area needs to be on a solid, level

surface

• Access for large vehicles to manoeuvre

• Preferred to be a business or community asset that

will provide immediate benefit

RV FRIENDLY MICROSITE

• A specific events portal for RV Friendly

Towns to advertise upcoming events,

festivals and volunteering opportunities.

• This will include details of events,

accommodation options and volunteering

capabilities

• Approximately 2000 CMCA members

volunteer in various capacities from major

events to community activities and festivals

each year. Many have already submitted

applications for Commonwealth Games at

the Gold Coast 2018.

CMCA DOLLAR WISE CARAVAN PARKS

• Caravan Parks that offer an

accommodation option of $10 or less per

vehicle, per night

• A Dollar Wise Park determines what is

included in this rate to best suit their

business

• Currently there are 50 Dollar Wise Caravan

Parks

CMCA FRIENDLY CARAVAN PARKS

• A CMCA Friendly Caravan Park offers CMCA

Members a discount of at least 10% of their normal

tariff

• There are 300 parks in this network; one of the largest

caravan park networks in Australia

RELATIONSHIP WITH GOVERNMENT

Working with Government

• Attendance at all Local Government Conferences

throughout Australia

• Attendance and presentations at Council meetings

• Engagement with Chambers of Commerce and

business sectors of the community

• Working with government to review legislation to open

more options to where RV vehicles can park, maximising

the land mass for self-contained vehicles and creating an

economic stimulus for the community

• In the past local governments are missing the key market

CONCLUSION

• RV tourism delivers quadruple bottom line benefits to

regional and outback Australia

Economic

Social

Environmental

Sustainability

• Maximising the benefits this market delivers requires

provision of a range of RV accommodation options

• CMCA seeks to partner with all tiers of governments to

maximise the benefits of RV tourism to Australia.

Thank you for your time