Gay Nomads float pays off
Colourful Mardi Gras float raises profile of Gay NomadsTaking part in Australia’s most famous LBGTI event has reaped dividends for Australia’s most colourful RV club, the Gay Nomads.
Supported by the Caravan Industry Association of Australia and Apollo Motorhomes, the national group waved the rainbow flag for the second year in a row at the 2018 Sydney Mardi Gras parade earlier this month.
The colourful Mercedes-Benz-based Apollo motorhome with ‘tent’ dancers was one of around 200 floats that took part in front of an extimate crowd of 300,000 people.
Gay Nomads founder, Lynne Hocking, said the motorhome “really stood out” compared with other floats at the event.
“There’s something about the big motorhome and the thought of camping that really just got the crowd going,” she said.
“As a result of this support we have had some pretty amazing follow up through our Facebook page… Caravan parks and small businesses are asking to be promoted on our site, and we are trying to have a directory of people which will then be supported by the Rainbow Accreditation Program.
“We have picked up more members and finally cracked more than 1000 followers on Facebook, completely organically through our presence and word of mouth.”
It’s the second time the group has taken part in the event, which was celebrating its 40th anninversary this year. The Gay Nomads float also featured on the televised SBS coverage.
Openly supporting the gay community is one of several strategies that the Caravan Industry Association of Australia has outlined in order to tap into the lucrative ‘gay nomads’ market, which the body estimates tips approximately $965 million a year into the RV leisure industry.
The peak national body launched the Rainbow Accreditation Program at its 2017 National Conference, and has identified the LGBTI market as one of the highest yielding niche segments in tourism with regards to spend per night.
“This demographic is an area of opportunity for the caravanning and camping industry and generally enjoys spending time on outdoor leisure activities,” CIAA CEO Stuart Lamont said earlier this year.
“We are very pleased to support the gay leisure travel market.”
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