Caravan lobby defends grey nomads

The CEO of Caravanning Queensland, Ron Chapman, has hit back at the writer of a newspaper article who describes grey nomads as “the highway equivalent of cholesterol”.

In an article in Brisbane’s Courier Mail, Chapman said that columnist Paul Syvret’s claim that “Nanna-vans are an unregulated and under-taxed menace” ignores the fact that caravanning is largely a safe and well regulated activity that delivers substantial social and economic benefits.

According to Chapman, 85 per cent of Australians have stayed in a caravan park at least once; they collectively spend $7 billion annually and “create an economic value of $17.44 billion to the overall economy”.

Chapman said caravanning and camping “has long been one of the economic drivers for Australia” because it’s “affordable, effective and fun”.

“While the motor industry has struggled to find market share, caravans continue to experience sales growth with caravanning and camping the number one holiday choice for most Australian families.”

He also said that “the idea that caravans are only enjoyed by grey nomads is outdated and inaccurate”.

“The largest domestic users of caravans are 30-54 year olds sitting at a healthy 50 per cent,” Chapman said. “It is not the elderly population, as Mr Syvret suggests, with the 55-70 age group making up just 25 per cent of the market.”

Caravanners also “keep many of Queensland’s rural towns alive”, with 80 per cent of their business courtesy of RV travellers, Chapman said.

And they pose less 'danger’ on the roads than some other users, with “less than 0.01 per cent of accidents being caused by caravans and the number one insurance claim for these vehicles is for hail and storm damage; not road accidents”.

Chapman's full article can be found here and click here. for the original Paul Syvret column.