January 2013

 
Roadside rest area: a disappearing sight in Queensland, claims travellers' club

Roadside rest area: a disappearing sight in Queensland, claims travellers' club

Reaction to draft tourism strategy

'Gold digging' state
driving nomads away, claims nationwide club

Have your say

IF Queensland wants to attract more grey nomads it must lower its expectations "on how much gold it can dig out of their pockets", according to a nationwide travellers' club.

The Australasian Touring Caravan, Motorhome & Camping Club (ATCM & CC) claims the Sunshine State's attitude over roadside rest areas and budget accommodation is driving many cash-strapped tourists away.

"Consumers are now staying away from Queensland as the rules became more rigorous about funnelling consumers into high priced caravan parks," it said.

"All the low cost accommodation has been taken away in favour of the private caravan parks."

The club makes its claims in a statement commenting on the Department of Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and the Commonwealth Games' Draft Queensland Drive Tourism Strategy which will make recommendations to the Queensland Government.

"Consumer legislation has given the caravan park industry ammunition to complain to local government about competition that rest areas in towns are taking away their businesses and is unfair," it said.

The ATCM & CC maintained that the draft strategy was formulated because of the falling numbers of grey nomads and other travellers visiting Queensland due to the lack of free or budget sites.

"Have a look at Tasmania and their consumer legislation about unfair competition by the caravan park lobby and the closing of rest areas. Look at the falling consumer numbers," it said.

"We do not want caravan parks with jumping castles and playgrounds etc. All we require is power, water, laundry, sullage and dump points and clean amenities ... and if possible a basic camp kitchen."

The ATCM & CC warned that grey nomads could not survive without low or minimum-cost stopping places.

Spending $40 or more a night in a private caravan park was not viable for the majority of grey nomads, who were mainly on age pensions, it pointed out.

Dividing couple's fortnightly pension of $1164.80 by 14 gave them just $83.20 a day to live and travel on.

"Take $40 out and they are left with $43.20 a day. Say $20 for fuel and they are left with $23.20 to live on for food etc.

"So why would consumers travel to Queensland to give private caravan parks $40 a night and fuel providers $20 a day?

"If Queenslanders want the majority of Australian grey nomads to visit their magnificent state, they will have to lower expectations of how much gold they can dig out of grey nomads' pockets ... because they do not have much to share with Queenslanders' high expectations."

The ATCM & CC claimed the Queensland Drive Tourism Strategy was just "one of many attempts to funnel consumers where they do not want to go".

"Consumers want to have freedom of choice," it added.

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