SEGRA 2017, Tourism of Tomorrow Spotlight Session Richard Barwick is CEO of the Campervan & Motorhome Club of Australia

1. Campervan & Motorhome Club of
Australia
(CMCA)
The Benefits of RV Tourism
Richard Barwick - CEO

2. Photo: Vince Evans W101638

3. 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

4. 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.

5. 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

6. 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

7. Member Accommodation Preferences

8. 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).

9. Spend – Low Cost Camping

10. ECONOMIC BENEFITS
Average spend - $770.00 per week
• Groceries
• Fuel
• Personal medical requirements
• Services
• Attractions
• Accommodation
• Shopping

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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.

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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.

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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.

26. Thank you for your time